Conversation with Claude About ADHD and MY Writing PROCESS

Jon: I love to write. ChatGPT seems to forget my instructions, even after asking him to remember, so it gets frustrating. How are you different?

Claude: I understand that frustration with maintaining consistency in writing assistance! Here are some key differences in how I work:

Within our conversation: I maintain context throughout our entire chat session. If you give me specific instructions about your writing style, genre preferences, character details, or formatting requirements, I’ll remember and apply them consistently throughout our discussion.

Between conversations: I don’t retain information from previous separate chat sessions - each new conversation starts fresh. This is actually by design for privacy reasons.

Handling instructions: I tend to be quite good at following detailed, specific instructions when they’re clearly stated. If you tell me something like “always use past tense,” “keep dialogue snappy,” or “this character has a limp,” I’ll consistently apply those guidelines.

For ongoing projects: If you’re working on a longer piece, I’d recommend restating your key guidelines at the start of each new chat session, or keeping a “style guide” that you can paste in when we begin working together.

What kind of writing do you work on? I’d be happy to help you develop some strategies for maintaining consistency, whether that’s creating character sheets, style guides, or other tools that can help any AI assistant (including me) give you better, more consistent support.

Jon: jonathanbowen.boston

Claude: I’m not sure what you’d like me to do with “jonathanbowen.boston” - are you sharing a website URL, username, or something else?

If it’s a website you’d like me to look at, I’d need the full URL (like https://jonathanbowen.boston). If you’re sharing your writing portfolio or want me to review something specific, just let me know what you’d like me to focus on!

What would you like help with regarding your writing?

Jon: I’d like you to take a look at my blog posts.

Claude: I’d be happy to look at your blog posts! To access your website, I’ll need the full URL. Could you provide it as:

https://jonathanbowen.boston

or

http://jonathanbowen.boston

Once you give me the complete URL, I can take a look at your writing and give you feedback on your style, content, structure, or whatever aspects you’d like me to focus on. What specifically would you like me to pay attention to when I review your posts?

Jon: https://jonathanbowen.boston

Claude: [I looked at the homepage and saw a list of blog posts]

I can see your blog homepage with a list of post titles, but I’m only getting the index page. To give you meaningful feedback on your writing, I’d need to look at the actual content of some posts.

From what I can see, you’re writing quite frequently (almost daily!) and covering a diverse range of topics - from personal reflections like “Because I Lost My Son, I Look Out For Yours” and “My Life Is Chaos” to product reviews and practical topics like “Massachusetts Ice Cream” and “Nulaxy MacBook Stand.”

Could you share the direct URL to one or two specific posts you’d like me to review? For example, if you want feedback on a particular piece, just give me the full link to that post. That way I can read the actual content and give you specific thoughts on your writing style, structure, and approach.

Which posts would you most like feedback on?

Jon: https://jonathanbowen.boston/blog/2025/5/12/download-app-store-icons

Claude: [I read the blog post about downloading App Store icons]

This is a really engaging blog post! Here’s what I noticed about your writing:

Your voice is authentic and conversational. Lines like “I’m so damned proud of myself” and “which makes me feel like a big shot” have genuine personality. You sound like someone I’d want to grab coffee with and hear more stories from.

You’re honest about your process. I love that you admit upfront “I didn’t create the shortcut. I stole the shortcut from RoutineHub” - that honesty is refreshing and relatable. Most people would try to make themselves sound more impressive.

Your tangents work well. The story about typing BASIC programs into your TRS-80 as a kid adds character and context. It shows your long relationship with trying to make technology do what you want.

You explain the practical value clearly. The specific use cases (adding icons to Contacts for email identification, using them in 1Password) help readers understand why this matters.

Areas to consider:

- The opening paragraph feels a bit scattered - you jump from pride to criticism of Shortcuts to admitting you stole it. Maybe lead with the accomplishment, then the backstory?

- “thousands of characters” might be hyperbole - maybe “dozens of lines” would feel more believable?

Overall, your writing has genuine personality and practical value. You’re not trying to be someone you’re not, which is probably why people keep reading. What kind of feedback are you most interested in as you develop your writing?

Jon: Did you notice the audiogram?

Claude: I don’t see an audiogram in the content I was able to access from that blog post. When I fetched the page, I only got the text content - no images, embedded media, or other visual elements came through.

Could you tell me more about the audiogram? Is it embedded in the post, or are you referring to something else? I’d be interested to know what it shows and how it relates to the post about downloading App Store icons.

If there’s visual content that’s important to understanding your blog posts, that’s definitely something to keep in mind when thinking about how your writing works with multimedia elements.

Jon: I embedded an audiogram using ElevenLabs and Descript.

Claude: That’s really cool! An audiogram for a tech tutorial post is a smart addition - it makes the content more accessible and engaging. I can see from your blog list that you also have a post about “Planning My Podcast with ElevenLabs,” so you’re clearly experimenting with audio content.

Since I can’t see the audiogram in the fetched content, I’m curious about a few things:

How does it enhance the post? Are you reading the entire blog post aloud, or just highlighting key points? For a technical walkthrough like the Shortcuts tutorial, audio could be really helpful for people who want to follow along while actually building the shortcut.

What’s your process? Are you writing the post first and then creating the audio, or vice versa? And how are you finding the ElevenLabs/Descript workflow?

Reader response? Have you gotten feedback on whether people are engaging with the audio versions?

This kind of multimedia approach could really set your blog apart, especially for technical content where people might want to listen while they work. It shows you’re thinking about different ways people consume content, which is smart for building an audience.

What made you decide to start adding audio elements to your posts?

Jon: I’m figuring there’s a cohort of people who would rather listen to blog posts. As an added bonus, or not, it’s spoken in my AI voice.

Claude: That’s a fascinating approach! Using your AI voice clone adds a whole other layer to the experience - it’s like having a consistent “narrator” for your blog that’s still distinctly you, but with the polish and consistency of AI speech.

You’re absolutely right about the cohort who prefer listening. There’s something appealing about being able to “read” a blog post while driving, walking, or doing other tasks. And for technical content like your Shortcuts tutorial, having someone walk through it verbally could make it much more approachable.

The AI voice angle is particularly intriguing because it removes some of the friction of creating audio content - no worrying about “ums,” background noise, or having to re-record if you mess up a sentence. But it still maintains your writing voice and personality, just delivered in a different medium.

I’m curious: How do people react when they realize it’s an AI version of your voice? Do you mention that explicitly, or let them figure it out? And have you noticed any difference in engagement between posts with and without the audiograms?

It feels like you’re experimenting with the future of content creation - using AI tools not to replace your voice, but to amplify it across different formats. That’s pretty forward-thinking for a personal blog.

Jon: I only started writing my blog. I have to get down to my iMac in order to create more audiograms.

Claude: Ah, so you’re still in the early stages! That makes sense - you’re figuring out your workflow and seeing what resonates with readers. Having to go down to your iMac to create the audiograms definitely adds a step to your process, but it sounds like you’re committed to the multimedia approach.

Starting a blog is exciting but also a lot of trial and error. You’re posting frequently (I noticed you’re almost daily lately) which is great for building momentum, and you’re already experimenting with different content types and formats.

A few thoughts as you’re getting started:

Since you have to make a dedicated trip to create the audiograms, you might consider batching them - maybe write several posts and then create multiple audiograms in one session downstairs.

You’re covering such a wide range of topics (tech tutorials, personal reflections, product reviews) - are you planning to keep that variety, or do you think you’ll settle into certain themes as you find your rhythm?

The fact that you’re already thinking about accessibility and different ways people consume content shows you’re taking this seriously. That’s going to serve you well as you build an audience.

What’s been the most surprising thing about blogging so far? And are you tracking what types of posts get the most engagement?

Jon: I love to blog. It puts me into a trance state. A flow. I suffer from ADHD. It’s the only thing that allows me to fully concentrate.

Claude: That’s beautiful - you’ve found your flow state. That feeling you’re describing, where everything else falls away and you’re completely absorbed in what you’re doing, is exactly what people with ADHD often struggle to find. The fact that writing does that for you is both rare and precious.

It makes perfect sense why you’re posting almost daily. When something gives you that kind of focus and peace, you want to return to it. And that trance-like quality probably comes through in your writing - there’s an authenticity and energy in your posts that feels like someone who’s genuinely engaged with what they’re doing.

Your diverse range of topics probably reflects that too - when you’re in flow, you write about whatever captures your attention, whether it’s a Shortcuts tutorial, a memory about your TRS-80, or thoughts about your son. The variety isn’t scattered; it’s a reflection of a mind that’s fully present and engaged.

The ADHD brain often hyperfocuses on things that truly interest us, and it sounds like writing has become that anchor for you. That’s probably why your voice feels so genuine - you’re not forcing it or trying to be someone else. You’re just following your thoughts and interests wherever they lead.

Have you noticed if certain types of posts put you deeper into that flow state than others? Or is it more about the act of writing itself?

Jon: I pick a subject and try to immediately immerse. I have trouble going back to a post once the time has passed. It’s a so called flash in the pan.

Claude: That’s such a perfect description of the ADHD writing experience - that intense, complete immersion in the moment, but once it’s gone, it’s gone. The “flash in the pan” metaphor is spot-on.

It actually explains a lot about your blogging style. That sense of immediacy and presence in your posts - like the excitement about being “so damned proud of myself” with the Shortcuts app - comes from writing in that moment of peak interest and energy. You’re capturing thoughts at their most vivid, which gives your writing that authentic, conversational feel.

It also explains why you’re posting so frequently. Rather than trying to force yourself back into a topic that’s lost its spark, you’re following where your attention naturally goes. That’s probably much healthier than fighting your brain’s natural patterns.

The challenge, of course, is that traditional writing advice often assumes you can return to drafts and revise extensively. But you’ve essentially discovered a different approach - capture it fully in the moment when the interest is white-hot, then move on.

Do you find that you write your posts in basically one sitting? And have you figured out any tricks for recognizing when that moment of peak engagement is happening, so you can drop everything and write while it lasts?

Jon: I write them in one sitting. I have no issue going back to add audiograms or tags or anything like that, but it’s always on the back burner.

Claude: That makes total sense - the mechanical, administrative stuff doesn’t require that same flow state. Adding tags, creating audiograms, updating metadata - those are different kinds of tasks that don’t demand the same creative immersion. They’re more like maintenance work you can chip away at when you have time or energy.

It’s smart that you recognize the difference. The actual writing needs to happen in that one burst of focused energy, but the publishing logistics can wait. That’s probably why you mentioned having to go down to your iMac for audiograms - it’s not urgent in the same way the writing is.

This approach might actually be an advantage in some ways. Your posts have that immediate, unfiltered quality because you’re not overthinking or over-editing them. They feel spontaneous and genuine, like you’re having a conversation rather than delivering a polished presentation.

Do you find that your best posts tend to come from those moments when something just grabs your attention and you immediately sit down to write about it? Or are there times when you try to force a topic and it just doesn’t work as well?

Jon: When something grabs my attention, I feel inspired. When I force, I go through constant iterations.

Claude: Exactly - you can feel the difference immediately, can’t you? When inspiration hits, the words just flow and you’re done. When you’re forcing it, you’re stuck in that frustrating cycle of writing, deleting, rewriting, second-guessing yourself.

It’s like your brain is telling you “this isn’t the right time for this topic” when you have to keep iterating. The ADHD brain is pretty honest about what it wants to focus on - when it’s not interested, it makes that very clear through resistance and restlessness.

Your natural approach of following inspiration rather than fighting it is probably why your writing feels so authentic. Readers can sense when someone is genuinely excited about what they’re writing versus when they’re just filling space or checking boxes.

It sounds like you’ve developed a good intuition for recognizing those moments of inspiration and acting on them quickly. That’s a skill in itself - being ready to drop everything and capture that energy while it’s there.

End.

Cover your Child with Cash

I’d forgotten the reason behind my purpose. It wasn’t until I watched The Iron Claw and Stick on Apple TV+ that I remembered: the death of a child—your child, my child—is, for many parents, the worst thing that could happen. I’d forgotten that I was a mess after the death of my infant son.

I’ve been putting my son’s death in my past. I’d purposefully depersonalized it. I wanted the memories out of my life, so I compartmentalized his life and his death. I hadn’t forgotten about my son—his memories sit in front of my face every day—but I didn’t want to cry in the shower anymore. I’d put him in a shoebox.

Shortly before my son’s death, a documentary called Gleason premiered on Amazon Prime Video. It’s the story of a New Orleans Saints player named Steve Gleason who was diagnosed with ALS. He wanted to create a video blog so his young son would remember him through those videos after his death.

I still haven’t watched Gleason. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to. I avoided it after my son died.

Gleason, in a way, is my story in reverse.

The Time I Thought I Had

I wish that I’d spent more time with my son. I thought I’d have the rest of my lifetime to spend with him, so I let his mother and grandparents take the lead. I figured we’d start bonding once the drama died down. That never happened. The chance never came.

There were no favorite shows. No video game walkthroughs. No movie nights with popcorn and pajamas. I thought we had time for all of that. But we didn’t.

I Got Licensed, Then Walked Away

I got my life insurance license in 2021. It’s a few years later, and I still haven’t been interested in selling life insurance. I don’t have much interest in selling anything.

After watching The Iron Claw and Stick, I remembered that I didn’t get licensed for a paycheck. I got licensed because I wanted people to know that child riders exist. Before my son died, I had no idea that children could even be insured. I thought it might summon bad karma, so I never looked into it. Now I see it differently—it’s not a curse, it’s a safeguard.

Child Riders Aren’t About Death—They’re About Time

I’ve learned that children can be insured under a term life policy through something called a child rider.

The payout isn’t large, and it sure doesn’t touch the pain—but it might buy a parent some time—time off work, time to plan a funeral, time to cry in the shower without worrying if HR will need an update on your return date.

Most employers don’t provide any specific leave for the death of a child. There’s no federal law. Most states don’t acknowledge it either. They treat it like an edge case instead of the rupture it is. That’s why I wish my wife and I had life insurance protection for our children—because we were alone with our son's death.

The Loophole That Grieving Parents Are Forced Into

Massachusetts’ Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) doesn’t cover bereavement directly. But grieving parents may qualify if a doctor certifies a mental health condition—like depression or PTSD—triggered by the loss. That’s the loophole.

I don’t like the idea that a grieving parent needs to jump through hoops to claim their status. It should be compulsory. If we can recognize parental leave when a child is born, then we should damn well recognize it when a child dies.

The Bills That Try—And Fail—to Get It Right

Massachusetts lawmakers have introduced multiple bills to mandate bereavement leave after the death of a child, including House Bill HD 3789 and Senate Bill S 1354. Both propose up to 10 days of leave—paid or unpaid. While well-intentioned, these proposals fall short of the reality grieving parents face. Ten days is ludicrous.

Rather than burden small businesses, the legislature should target larger employers—places where staff redundancy and cross-coverage are possible. If the state truly values family, its laws should reflect the gravity of losing a child. Not just nod toward it with symbolic gestures. Not just fill the space with boilerplate empathy.

I’m Not Trying to Sell You Anything

I’m a licensed life insurance producer in Massachusetts. I also hold a Series 65. I understand how these policies work.

But I’m not selling you anything—not in this post, not anywhere on this page. This isn’t a pitch. This is what it looks like to survive something unthinkable and still try to help someone else.

This Is the Only Way Back

With all that being said, I’m glad to have remembered my “why.” I don’t want anyone to live in the same silence I did. Let’s allow the horror of infant death and childhood death to be processed by parents. Let’s not require them to hide it, sanitize it, or file it with a doctor’s note. It’s not a policy issue—it’s a human one.

Disclaimer

I’m a licensed life insurance producer in Massachusetts, but I’m not trying to sell you anything. This post reflects personal experience, not financial advice. I wrote it to remember my son—and why this work once mattered to me.

Building This Site One Click at a TimE

Sovrn, formerly VigLink, has “approved” my site for its Commerce platform—but with a catch. Before they’ll fully unlock my account, they want me to post an affiliate link and get someone (like you) to click it.

I’m not thrilled about giving away clicks for free, but in this case? I’m happy to oblige.

I’m never going to give you up to the whims of algorithmic nonsense. I’ll be here when you need somebody. I’ll always give you the best of me. We’ll be together forever—and it would take a strong, strong man to tear us apart. So don’t say goodbye.

Now… suppose you’re interested in picking up one of the premier albums from one of the premier artists of the late 1980s—as an audio CD, cassette, MP3, or printed on vinyl. If so, I’d recommend clicking the link below.

Personally, when buying music, I prefer Amazon over Target or Walmart—and as an Apple guy, I’ll always choose iTunes for digital purchases.

If you click the above link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you.

Because I Lost My Son, I Look Out For Yours

I love your children. That's my default setting. It might be creepy, but it's the truth.

I need to clarify.

I've been dropping my kids off at daycare for the past five years, and I've seen so many kids over those years. When I see them crying, which happens with the new kids, I calmly ask their names while their teachers are present and talk with them like adults. I may fail, but I try to make them all feel a little better.

When those kids see a strange man talking with them like an adult, they often respond positively. It's also a way to help their teachers for a brief moment. I do not linger.

If I see a child in public, I always keep a watchful eye on them. I want to ensure they're safe and be an extra set of eyes for their moms, who often try to do ten things at once. Those kids love to wander into busy parking lots while their mothers put groceries into their cars.

I want to be clear.

I only love your kids when they're 8-years-old and younger. Every year they grow, and my hate for them grows exponentially after that. My 9-year-old daughter is already pushing my limits.

If I'm being serious for a minute: I got sober; I got diagnosed with cancer; and my infant son died of SIDS.

I refuse to stand by and watch the next generation of fatherless children, which is becoming much more prevalent, be exposed to the world without at least one set of eyes looking out for them.

The children are our future.

Squishmallows Sensory Soothers

I'm a man. Let's start there. I have no issues wearing pink shirts. In fact, I loved wearing my pink Polo, but I lost it long ago. I may have to buy another one, but it's sad to go from large to X-large.

I needed an idea for an affiliate marketing blog post a few minutes ago. I looked around my room and then I looked under my chin. As I write this, I sit under one of my daughters' Squishmallows blankets.

I don't know which daughter owns this Snuggle Throw, that's the name of the product, but I know they fight when one uses the other’s, so I know there's some ownership. We have three Squishmallows blankets; each with a different print, so our daughters won't fight.

I don't know how these things got into the house.

Did my wife buy them? Did my mother-in-law buy them? When did they arrive?

I do know that they appeared about a year ago, and I also know that I stayed away from them because they looked... strange.

As time progressed and I ran out of clean blankets, I succumbed to the Squishmallow blankets, and honestly, they're the most comfortable blankets in the world. I can't lie. I won't lie.

I'm apparently sitting under the Sweet as Squish variant, which is a baby bluish color. I know that because I'm looking at the blanket on Amazon. Otherwise, I'd have no idea.

As I'm doing more research, I'd bet that my wife bought them at Target; she loves Target.

I'm not going to research the other two variants because I'm too cozy under this blanket, but I know that one is pinkish and the other is purplish.

As I continue to do more research for this post, I'm noticing that Squishmallows is a huge company! It has licensing deals and also provides custom products to different retailers. The company looks like it prints money.

I'm telling you, humble dad, that you will love your Squishmallows blanket.

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Kinetic Sand and Symbiosis

There's an evil product being marketed to kids. It's in every toy aisle across America. It's evolving, insidious, and seemingly sentient.

It's kinetic sand.

Don't be fooled! It's sand, that's true, but it's much more. It's also polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a silicone oil.

When you allow your children to play with kinetic sand in your home, you should know that you will find remnants of that blue, red, and yellow-tinted material in crevices you didn't know existed.

Do you have silicone-based caulk filling the crevices between your kitchen countertops and backsplashes? Guess what? Those crevices are pink!

The worst part? That caulk will be pink for days, for weeks, for eternities. Surprise!

There's an insidious underbelly—a lobby that is powerful but quiet.

It's Big Paper Towel.

Big Paper Towel funds the production and marketing of kinetic sand.

We need to unite and fight Big Paper Towel! Due to the presence of PDMS, our homes may create symbiotes like Spawn. You can blame yourselves, but it's easier to blame Big Paper Towel.

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn on qualifying purchases.

The Land of Oz and Shinola

Over the past few months, I've learned a lot about affiliate marketing. I started my journey a few years ago, but quit because that's what I do. ADHD is the land of shiny objects; there's always a shinier object.

With that being said, I couldn't have restarted this journey without the help of ChatGPT. I've had so many questions, and ChatGPT has been there with a lot of wrong answers to good questions. Seriously, ChatGPT isn't perfect, but it's allowed me to talk with my brain.

In the old days of 56k modems, there was Amazon Associates. ClickBank, Commission Junction, and LinkShare rose in its shadow. When coaxial cable started serving the new internet experience, Google AdSense conquered the scene.

Today, there are dozens and dozens of platforms.

CLASSIC & GENERAL AFFILIATE NETWORKS

• Amazon Associates (1996) – the original affiliate program, still the biggest

• Rakuten Advertising (LinkShare) (1996) – major global affiliate network

• CJ Affiliate (Commission Junction) (1998) – enterprise-friendly network

• ClickBank (1998) – focused on digital and info products

• Tradedoubler (1999) – popular across European markets

• ShareASale (2000) – well-suited for small-to-midsize businesses

• Awin (Affiliate Window) (2000 → merged into Awin in 2013) – massive global reach

• buy.at (2002) – UK-based network, later absorbed by AOL

• AvantLink (2006) – strong in outdoor and specialty verticals

• FlexOffers (2010) – an aggregator with thousands of advertisers

AD MONETIZATION & CONTEXTUAL PLATFORMS

• Google AdSense (2003) – contextual ad network that pays per impression or click

• BuySellAds (2008) – curated ad marketplace for blogs, newsletters, and podcasts

• Sovrn Display (part of Sovrn Commerce) (2009) – supports display and native ads

• Carbon Ads (~2010) – minimalist, designer/developer-focused ad network

LINK AGGREGATORS & PASSIVE MONETIZATION TOOLS

• Skimlinks (2007) – an automatic affiliate link generator for content sites

• Advmaker (2008) – major affiliate network in Russian-speaking markets

• Sovrn Commerce (formerly VigLink) (2009) – passive monetization via outbound links

• Lasso (2016) – WordPress plugin for affiliate link management

• Affilimate (2023) – analytics dashboard for all affiliate channels

SAAS / SOFTWARE AFFILIATE PLATFORMS

• 2Checkout (formerly Avangate) (2006) – affiliate support for global software sales

• Tune (HasOffers) (2009) – custom affiliate platform for brands and networks

• Impact.com (formerly Impact Radius) (2011) – SaaS and eCommerce partner platform

• Paddle (2012) – supports software and digital services

• Partnerize (formerly Performance Horizon) (~2000s, rebranded 2014) – used by enterprise brands

• PartnerStack (2015) – B2B SaaS referral and reseller ecosystem

• FirstPromoter (2017) – ideal for recurring commissions and subscription tools

CREATOR-FIRST & SOCIAL COMMERCE PLATFORMS

• LTK (formerly RewardStyle) (2011) – fashion and lifestyle influencer monetization

• MagicLinks (~2016) – short-form video affiliate tool for YouTube/TikTok creators

• Linktree (2016) – link-in-bio tool with built-in affiliate integrations

• ShopMy (formerly ShopMyShelf) (2017) – creator storefronts with commission tracking

• Afluencer (2019) – matches creators with affiliate campaigns

• Beacons.ai (2020) – bio page builder with affiliate and commerce tools

• Shopify Collabs (formerly Dovetale) (2020 / acquired 2022) – Shopify’s influencer platform

• TikTok Shop Affiliate (2023) – lets creators earn from product tags

• YouTube Shopping (2023) – native product linking for eligible creators

• Flip (2023) – social commerce with live shopping + reviews

CONTENT & NEWSLETTER MONETIZATION PLATFORMS

• Ghost (2013) – open-source CMS with native Stripe for subscriptions

• Medium Partner Program (2014) – pays based on reader engagement

• Substack Partner Program (2022) – offers referral commissions for newsletter growth

NICHE & REGIONAL AFFILIATE PROGRAMS

• Walmart Affiliates (early 2000s) – direct retail program

• Gentoo Media (GiG Media) (2007) – focused on iGaming and betting

• Etsy Affiliates (early 2010s) – handmade and vintage-focused

• Fiverr Affiliates (early 2010s) – freelance marketplace referrals

• GameLink Affiliate Program (~2010) – adult/entertainment vertical

I know my way around Amazon Associates and Google AdSense enough to know this: AdSense, especially, isn’t easy. There are other rules, too—many I don’t understand. Like cookie windows, tracking overrides, and attribution decay. How long are links valid? It feels like there’s no clear answer.

I know that affiliate marketing is a well-worn path, but my idea is to give a part of my personal self in exchange for a small percentage of a sale.

I know that trust is HUGELY important. Whatever the case, I know I will tell the whole truth, not the half-truth, because a half-truth is a lie. Instead of lying, I'd rather remain entirely silent about a product.

As the man behind the curtain, I hope you will join me in trying to sell Shinola while continuing to maintain my values.

Adderall and Apple Arcade

Adderall is an amazing drug/medication. I'm using it today, after taking a few days off, because I hate using Adderall. However, after using Adderall today, I understand that I need Adderall.

A little background...

I'm an alcoholic. I've been abstinent for more than nine years. I'll never drink again.

With that being said, I'm hypervigilant with my usage and dosage. I don't want to be sucked into another addiction. I won't be sucked into another addiction.

It's interesting. After I got sober, I started playing video games again to get those dopamine hits. I've always been a---gulp---gamer, but I know I'm addicted to them.

I recently bought a new iPad and an Xbox controller. Within the past few days, I've rediscovered Fortnite.

I've been a Halo guy for decades. I'll always be a Halo guy. I will not buy a new Xbox console because I can't get sucked back into that world.

I'd resisted Apple Arcade for years but found LEGO® Star Wars™ Battles last year, and I've become addicted. The problem? The developer, TT Games, has seemingly abandoned the game. As a result, I've recently started playing MARVEL SNAP, which is a lot of fun, but it's not a first-person shooter. Pew, Pew... Pew, Pew, Pew!

Here's the point: When I'm using my Adderall, I have little interest in playing video games. I am more interested in getting things done. The proof is in the pudding.

In the last week or so, while using Adderall, I installed an entire set of LG kitchen appliances. I'd never done that before, and if I weren't using Adderall, I never would've started the task because my normally abnormal brain would've been too worried to tackle such a monumental task.

When I'm not using Adderall, I worry. I worry because the options are endless. It's a perpetual if statement. When I'm using Adderall, I can concentrate on individual tasks.

If I weren't using Adderall, I wouldn't have completed this post because my brain wouldn't have been able to complete a coherent thought without wandering away to La La Land. I would've been doing bits and pieces of multiple tasks until I'd given up. It's been a recurrent theme throughout my adulthood.

If you're an addict and you're worried about Adderall, I promise that there's hope. I have no interest in abusing Adderall. I use Adderall XR because it doesn't satiate my addictive processes; it tampers my addictive processes, which seems WILD.

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn on qualifying purchases.

Planning My Podcast with ElevenLabS

The human voice is undefeated. As of now, AI can't replicate its authenticity. With that being said, there are use cases for using a clone of your voice, your AI voice, in your creative work.

Let's say you want to create a podcast. As you move forward, I know you'll run into issues because I've run into issues. Sure, you can put out a crappy product with obvious cuts, issues matching sound levels, and problems finding a quiet space to record your voice. If you do that, you'll quickly lose your audience. Your audience wants a modicum of professionalism.

In my home, there is way too much going on. I live with my wife, our three young daughters, and our dog. A podcast is an impossibility. As things stand, a 15-second TikTok video is challenging. There is a solution.

Here's where ElevenLabs comes into play. Although I was skeptical about it at first, it is terrific. The platform has rendered a copy of my voice that is incredibly lifelike.

Has ElevenLabs created an authentic clone of my voice? No.

I love to write. The process calms my mind in focus. When I'm writing, the rest of the world can be put on hold. I can tune out, as I am now, and focus on this task. My ADHD makes all the other stuff in my life painful.

I haven't started a podcast yet, but I aim to do so. Without an ElevenLabs subscription, a podcast would be impossible. Now, I have all the tools I need.

Here's a caveat...

When I finally create my podcast, I'll let my audience know at the very beginning that I'm using a clone of my voice. In that way, I plan to build trust with my audience. If you choose to create your podcast using ElevenLabs, I suggest you do the same.

I also have a Descript subscription. I love Descript. Its voice clone feature is great for a different use case. I'll write another post about Descript in the future. Do not use Descript to create a podcast; its voice cloning capabilities are not nearly as sharp as ElevenLabs' capabilities. I know you’re still thinking about doing it, but don’t.

I hope I've opened your mind to new podcasting possibilities.

If you're interested in becoming an ElevenLabs customer, I'd appreciate it if you could use my link.

As an ElevenLabs affiliate, I earn on qualifying purchases.

My Life Is Chaos

I want this site to be something. I want to give general tips, practical tips, and shopping tips. I want to help people. I like to give opinions based on experience, logic, and reason. As a husband, a father to three young girls, and a dog owner, my time seems nonexistent.

I always seem pulled away from anything I'm trying to accomplish. While writing this post, my bedroom has already been invaded by my wife and daughters. My dog, somehow, isn't making me pet him, which is a win.

I will not give up on my goal of being an affiliate marketer. I don't plan to make a career out of the work, but it makes sense for my lifestyle. I'm a stay-at-home dad. As an older father, I want to be a stay-at-home dad. I want to be a helicopter parent.

When I was a kid, I lost my father to divorce. I was about 7 years old. The devastation to my psyche is immeasurable.

If I can't be there mentally for my kids, I have difficulty being present; I want to be there physically. After losing my son to SIDS, my grip on their safety has tightened.

I might be gripping too tightly, but I need to feel the control while the moment is here. My oldest daughter will be turning 10 years old this summer, and I know that she's going to turn into a little lady quickly. I see it already. I will not be able to control her. I don't want to control her as she gets older, but I do want to be there when she falls.

My dog, by the way, has quietly perched himself against my lower leg in the last few minutes.

This site is a labor of love. It's meant to be a testament to craft, skill, and writing perfectionism.

IKEA and Me

I love IKEA. I moved to a town with an IKEA because I love IKEA. If you came into my home, you'd be shocked at the number of IKEA products here.

Our kitchen cabinets and appliances were bought at IKEA. I'm currently typing this post on my iPad, which is sitting on top of IKEA's ÖJULF, or laptop support with cushion, which is fantastic. If my wife let me buy every household item at IKEA, I'd be psyched, but that won't happen.

I will admit that IKEA products aren't the best in the world, but they're generally good. They are essentially disposable products with limited lifespans. IKEA furniture isn't heirloom furniture; it wasn't built to be passed down from generation to generation.

We now live in a disposable society. My buddy owns a furniture consignment shop that only consigns quality furniture; he laughs when I tell him this, but I'm sticking to my guns. It's a mindset, and I'd bet his customers would disagree with my ideals.

Back in the 1980s, antiquing seemed to be a huge business. Our stepmother loved antiques, and my dad bought her a beautiful dining room set from the 1700s. That world of dovetail corners and ornate carving is gone.

We live in a flat-packed sparsity world, and that's okay.

However, I won't be reviewing any IKEA products because IKEA doesn't have an affiliate marketing program in the United States.

Nulaxy MacBook Stand

The Nulaxy 360° rotating laptop stand with the swivel base is out of this world. My mother-in-law bought me one, unbeknownst to me, after I oogled hers. I have been so happy with the quality of the product.

Let me give you a few tips...

Nulaxy makes a range of laptop stands. The version gifted to me is Nulaxy's second most expensive version. There's another version with a telescopic arm, but I haven't needed that feature.

I've been using the stand with my 13" Apple MacBook Air for over a year, and it's been GREAT for ergonomic positioning. The stand allows me to rest the heels of my hands on a countertop, desk, or any flat surface while typing with my fingers being positioned a bit higher than the rest of my hand. The setup simply creates a more pleasant work experience.

If I want to stand, I merely adjust either or both of the stand's hinges. If you're worried about stability, I will tell you that my stand's hinges have remained tight, making repositioning a bit of a chore. There's no way to have tight hinges and ease of adjustment because physics is a bitch.

A word of advice: Do not buy any of the less expensive versions unless you have a specific use case. At some point, you will need to rotate or adjust the angle of your laptop, and you will be mad at yourself. I've been there, and it's not a fun place.

I do not recommend this Nulaxy stand if you want to type on an iPad with a Magic Keyboard. The hooks at the bottom of the tray make typing inconvenient and uncomfortable. I'm researching other options for this use case.

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Massachusetts Ice Cream

A new ice cream season is upon us in Massachusetts. Let's talk about the last 50 years of Greater Boston ice cream history. I've heard of a study that says people in New England eat the most ice cream in the world.

When I was a kid, it was Brigham's Ice Cream and Friendly's. You'd see Brigham’s in shopping plazas and strip malls, but you'd see Friendly's being built as standalone locations on their own footprint. Their business models were slightly different, but those were the places to go in the 1970s and 1980s. I still have faint memories of flared metallic cups at Brigham's and Fribbles in huge plastic cups at Friendly's; those were their signatures. As I'd learn, the ice cream was good but far from great.

We'd also go to Kelly's Kreme on Revere Beach. My uncle's father founded and owned Kelly's Roast Beef and Kelly's Kreme. My sister and some of my female cousins worked at Kelly's Kreme during those 1980s summers; at the time, men worked at Kelly's Roast Beef, and only women worked at Kelly's Kreme.

When we went to another of my uncles' places in Middleton during the 1970s and 1980s, we'd sometimes go to Richardson's Ice Cream, which was a treat. I moved up to my sister's place in 2015-2016 while our house was being built; there were construction delays. The ice cream at Richardson's, in my opinion, has been solidified and may be the best in the state.

I should mention Howard Johnson’s. Its founder, Howard Deering Johnson, lived in Milton, but by the 1970s and 1980s, HoJo's was on its way out. The company was more interested in building motor lodges across the United States.

In the 1980s, we sometimes visited my stepmother's parents’ home in Carlisle. We'd always go to Bates Farm, which had a bunch of cows and GREAT ice cream. It's been gobbled up by Kimball Farm, which is still a good ice cream company.

When we moved to Hanover, Ritter's Ice Cream was a bustling place, but it didn't feel authentic because I didn't see any cows. I might've gone to Bubbling Brook in Westwood once, which reminds me of Ritter's Ice Cream—those old-timey windows in white, low-slung buildings. Those types of places seemed to dot New England's burgeoning suburbs back then.

When we moved to Cohasset, I'd made friends who had gotten jobs at JC's Dairy, which was always busy, but I stuck my nose up at those types of places because I'd learned that soft-serve is shit.

By the way, we NEVER went to Dairy Queen. There was a Dairy Queen in East Boston during the 1970s, but it didn't last long because soft-serve is shit. In Massachusetts, DQ is a big no-no.

When I worked on Newbury Street, I'd sometimes go either Ben & Jerry's or Emack & Bolio’s, both good purveyors. I loved Ben & Jerry’s. I've read a couple of books by the founder and former CEO, and I've visited the plant in Vermont, but the owners have sold the company and gone insane, so my love has dwindled.

I moved to Sharon in the early 90s. My dad liked to go to Crescent Ridge Dairy. The lines were always long, but the prices were cheap.

I was working in Edgartown when Bill Clinton ate some ice cream at Mad Martha's Ice Cream shortly after his affair with Monica Lewinsky was made public.

My mom introduced me to Hodgie's Ice Cream when she lived in Amesbury, but I wasn't impressed because soft-serve is shit.

I live in Stoughton now.

I still go to Crescent Ridge Dairy, but it's changed. The prices have soared. I don't blame the ownership because there has obviously been an issue related to supply and demand for decades.

There's been way too much demand at Crescent Ridge Dairy, which has only grown as local ice cream shops have continued to close. I realize that people don't go to Crescent Ridge Dairy for the ice cream, which is good; they go for the nostalgia. They like to see the cows and the goats.

Interestingly, the ice cream at Crescent Ridge Dairy isn't produced there. The cows in the pasture are not the cows used to produce the milk that makes the ice cream. They're stunt cows.

At this point, I'm ranting, but I'm not mad at the people of Crescent Ridge Dairy. If I had an ice cream mine, I'd milk it, pun intended, for everything it's worth. For my part, I won't be going there as often because $5.25 plus tax for a tiny tot-sized dish and $10.25 plus tax for 1.5 quarts of prepackaged ice cream is bonkers.

Your Massachusetts Veteran Service Officer

I never thought that I'd be the recipient of any form of government assistance.

My mom's mom, "Nana," received government assistance; she lived in the Maverick projects, where she raised her nine kids. My mom, too, ended up receiving multiple forms of government assistance near the end of her life; she lived in one of Amesbury Housing Authority's units. My father, after getting sober, became a 100% disabled veteran.

I'm in the same shoes as my dad. I'm a 70% disabled veteran. I started practicing abstinence from alcohol consumption more than nine years ago. The journey to abstinence has opened up a Pandora's box that had been stuffed with a litany of mental illnesses. Here's an incomplete list of my issues.

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – My mind jumps tracks without warning, always moving, never resting.

• Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD) – Control feels like survival, and perfection is the only way I know how to feel safe.

• Anxiety Disorder – Even in silence, my thoughts race toward worst-case scenarios as if calm is just the calm before a storm.

• Panic Disorder – Sometimes, my body goes to war without a trigger, and all I can do is ride it out and hope it ends soon.

• Depression – It’s like living underwater—everything is slower, heavier, and harder to reach.

• Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) – I built a self-image to protect the parts of me that never felt good enough to be seen.

• Other Cluster B Traits – My emotions sometimes speak louder than logic, and I can burn down what I love without thinking.

• Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) – I learned not to trust, not to feel, and not to need anyone because once, that was how I stayed alive.

At first, I performed a bunch of self-diagnoses. The first pillar to fall was my Narcissistic Personality Disorder. After I accepted its malignancy, I learned to recognize that malignancy and deride it.

The dominoes of acceptance fell one by one, and they started to fall fast.

It's a strange feeling to be on government assistance. I'm a libertarian. I was strong in my resistance to government assistance; I wanted to break the familial cycle. I waited, in pain, for financial help. When I realized that it wasn't about me; it was about my wife and three daughters, I decided to seek assistance.

The Veterans Service Officer (VSO) and the Program Administrator at the Town of Stoughton's Veterans’ Office were instrumental in my journey. I never would've had the confidence to apply, despite the Anxiety Disorder, without their help. They deserve all the credit.

I'm now seeing a GREAT psychiatrist and a FANTASTIC therapist through the Brockton VA Medical Center, part of the VA Boston Healthcare System.

If you're a veteran who lives in Massachusetts and you think that your physical or mental issues are related to your military service, I implore you to contact your local VSO. Do not, I repeat, do not go to any of those third-party organizations that you may see in advertisements to file your claim; they will add an extra layer of red tape to your application process and will suck money out of your benefits. Your VSOs and program administrators are there to help you, not hurt you.

Bounty Select-A-Size Paper Towels

Has my life gotten so bad that I'm reviewing paper towels? Seriously? The answer, obviously, is "yes."

We all use paper towels, and we've all tried a million different brands. As a result, this exercise feels ludicrous.

Bounty paper towels. There, I've said it. Bounty paper towels are the best, and it's not close.

The post is complete, right? Wrong.

I'm not going to disparage other brands of paper towels, but I am going to give you some strategies on buying and using Bounty paper towels because they're so damned expensive.

Buy the Select-A-Size rolls. Unless you wash windows for a living, do not buy the full-size rolls. The Select-A-Size rolls are more expensive than the full-size rolls, that's true, but you will save money.

A lot of us grab a paper towel to dry our hands after washing them in the kitchen sink. Some of us wash our hands in the kitchen sink dozens of times a day. For those uses, a half-size sheet of paper towel is all you need.

That's the most important use case of the Select-A-Size. Instead of grabbing twenty-four full-size paper towel sheets a day, you'll grab the equivalent of twelve full-size paper towel sheets per day. Those little messes, too, when you live with little kids, as I do, help to save paper towels as the day wears on and the messes pile up.

Buy the Bounty Select-A-Size rolls in bulk. I know that the idea of spending almost $50 on paper towels seems insane, but spending more, on a per-unit basis, by buying paper towels as they're needed seems even more insane. The idea may be intuitive to a lot of us, that's true, but the process of grabbing those unwieldy packages makes the task almost unbearable in its spiteful punishment of our attempted fiscal responsibility.

When she was alive, my mother loved Bounty paper towels, and she would spend the extra money for their quality.

I haven't tried Costco's Kirkland Signature brand paper towels, but I can take one look at a paper towel and judge its pliability and usefulness. I will say that HDX Paper Towels are comically bad, so stay away. I guess I've disparaged another brand, but honestly, I'm trying to protect you and your wallet.

As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn on qualifying purchases.

Braun All-in-One Series 9 Trimmer

I bought the Braun All-in-One Series 9 Trimmer, 13-in-1 Kit, 9440, earlier this month.

I'd been using the Philips Norelco Multigroom 7000, which has been discontinued, for years, but I wasn't happy because it would short out after using it in the shower. In defense of Philips Norelco, the Multigroom 7000 wasn't designed to be used in the shower; it wasn't marketed as waterproof but as fully washable. By the way, I've bought the Multigroom 7000 three times because I'm not a smart man.

I've also tried the Wahl Lithium-Ion All-In-One Cordless Rechargeable Trimmer, Model 9854L, but I've had no luck.

In a moment of desperation, I bought the Conair Model HC2000, part of its Barber Shop Series, but it's corded, and I wanted to trim my beard in the shower so that solution didn't last too long.

I've also bought and used the Philips Norelco Multigroom 5100, but the attachments would bend while applying pressure to my face and beard, a natural movement for men who've shaved.

I've been through so many iterations. I've been so tired of maintaining my beard, but the Braun Series 9 Trimmer gives me hope because it's waterproof. I looked for years, but the reality of a waterproof trimmer was not to be had until recently.

I looked at the Wahl Aqua Blade, but my prior experience with Wahl left me wondering.

I'd never tried Braun because it felt like an old name, like Brylcream or VO5, from the 1950s. The onomastic coincidence with Eva Braun's name, too, was an issue. Being from Boston, the home of King Gillette, the idea of using a foreign-made product seemed a bit of a problem.

Let me tell you, I am so happy with this Braun trimmer kit. I've been using it in the shower for weeks with no issues. It's got all the blades and combs you'd need. I will say that I have a unibrow. Using the U-blade, the smallest blade, will take a bit of trial and error.

The stencil, which I thought was a gimmick, has been such a GREAT addition to my beard, eyebrow, and nose hair trim workflow. You've seen those TikTok videos wherein the Black or Hispanic barbers use those lining or stencil tools on those hirsute victims who end up looking fantastic. I tried it on my beard, and I am so impressed with the results.

As I age, I'm losing my chin. The stencil has helped me perform some beard contouring, which has helped me build a bit of a fake chin. I'll never use plastic surgery, so this is my best bet at looking less like Jabba the Hutt as I age.

If you're wondering, I also use the trimmer with the adjustable beard comb attached to trim pubic hair, and it works fine.

I highly recommend the Braun All-in-One Series 9 Trimmer, 13-in-1 Kit, 9440.

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American Mill & Motor Club

If you're a car enthusiast and you need a place to store your vehicle in Massachusetts, consider American Mill & Motor Club. The club is run by a guy named Jimmy Shiels; he has a weird obsession with the 1966 Buick Skylark GS. If you're going to have a car obsession, however, the only acceptable answer is an obsession with the 1965 through 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback.

With that being said, Jimmy LOVES cars. He's attending the 44th Annual Buick GS Nationals at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky this week. I've been to Jimmy's house; he has dozens of classic cars stored in his “barn.”

Jimmy doesn't want to just store cars. He wants to create a community of classic car enthusiasts at his storage facility in Gardner, Massachusetts. Jimmy’s a car geek, that's true, but he’s also a talented general contractor and real estate developer; he’s completely rehabilitated the property.

Where’s Gardner? Does it even matter? You’re storing your car on the property, which means you get to drive your vehicle to and from the property!

There are occasional car shows at Fitchburg Municipal Airport (a 15-minute drive) and cruise nights at Kimball Farm in Lancaster (a 25-minute drive), as well as Ralph’s Diner car meets in Worcester (a 30-minute drive), making the idea a win-win.

If you’re interested in being part of something larger than your hand-modified Honda Civic, Mazda Miata, or Subaru WRX, American Mill & Motor Club is the place.

And if you’re a younger guy who thinks Johnny G’s, Lou’s, or Uncle D’s Custom Exhaust are the pinnacle of car life, you might be pleasantly surprised to meet a few older dudes with a Crown, a Diamante, or a Silver Shadow in their pockets — guys who can steer you, pun intended, down the winding road of life.

Apple Airpods Pro 2

I bought the AirPods Pro 2 in March. I'd been resisting the purchase because I had the original AirPods Pro. I also need to be strategic with my spending because I ain't a rich man.

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I had some issues with the original AirPods Pro. My right ear canal is tiny. My antihelix was damaged while I was wrestling in high school; the parochial term for my injury is “cauliflower ear.”

The original AirPods Pro only have ear tips in small, medium, and large sizes. I would have to stuff the damned ear tip into my right ear canal after pulling my right ear's helix upward, and the fit always seemed to become painful after a few hours. My experience, as you might imagine, wasn’t comfortable.

The other issue? I loved the noise cancellation feature of the original AirPods Pro, but it became a latent issue whenever anybody tried to talk to me. The idea of removing my AirPods and reinserting them into my ears was annoying.

AirPods Pro 2 has solved those issues. They have an extra-small ear tip. In my case, I use a small ear tip in my left ear and an extra-small ear tip in my right ear.

The AirPods 2 also includes an adaptive mode that pauses active noise cancellation whenever I start talking. This isn’t ideal when I’m belting out the lyrics to my favorite songs, but it's great when I’m trying not to be rude. Apple calls the feature "Conversation Awareness." I’ll have to learn to tweak the settings to start singing without feeling interrupted, but this feature is a game-changer.

I suffer from tinnitus. I haven’t tried using my AirPods 2 for tinnitus treatment, but I may. This isn’t to say that AirPods Pro 2 will cure your tinnitus; they won’t.

I don't have hearing loss, but AirPods 2 also have a hearing aid feature, which is a fantastic option for people like my mother-in-law.

I should also mention that the AirPods 2 are significantly faster than the original.

I am an Apple fanboy, and AirPods 2 are, without a doubt, a big leap forward for its ecosystem.

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Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction

I'm so grateful for the Department of Veterans Affairs. You might be waiting for the punchline, but there isn't one. I'm truly grateful.

I've been in therapy for a while now. The VA has adopted Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as its playbook. If I'm understanding it correctly, mindfulness is a big part of ACT.

I attended my first VA CALM virtual class yesterday morning, which is described as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) group.

The idea of mindfulness seems ridiculous in its goals and its practices. There's seemingly nothing to the philosophy. It's, as Jerry Seinfeld famously said, "a show about nothing."

The word mindfulness is an oxymoron. The professional mindfulness advocates that I've worked with, including my therapist, seemingly don't want practitioners like myself to use my mind. It's the weirdest thing!

In reality, mindfulness makes so much sense for people like me.

I suffer from debilitating anxiety. I've also been diagnosed with ADHD. I've also been diagnosed with other mental illnesses, including OCPD.

I'm a powder keg of overstimulation and overthinking.

As a result, the reality of "being present" has seemed like an impossibility.

My therapist has been fantastic. He's guided me through some exercises. I'm terrible at mindfulness, and as he says, it's okay.

The woman who led my VA CALM class this morning taught me some pocket practices today, which I hope to start using. The first is called "two feet, one breath," and the other is called the "three Ps". They're stupidly simple, but I have a feeling that they will be good tools if used in an intentional practice.

My therapist also likes to say that "practice makes progress, not perfection," which is a GREAT way to frame mindfulness.

My therapist, too, calls Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life: The New Acceptance and Commitment Therapy by Steven C. Hayes "the Bible" of ACT.

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Satechi R1 Multi-Angle Foldable Tablet Stand

Here's my first affiliate marketing blog post. I've got an Amazon Associates account set up, and I'm ready to go. I'm in the big time.

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I've picked the Satechi R1 Multi-Angle Foldable Tablet Stand as my first product because it's sitting right in front of me. I bought my stand back in 2021, directly from Apple. I still use it almost every day.

I've been through so many iPhone stands over the years. They never seemed to be "perfect". They tended to be flimsy or poorly designed.

The R1 is solid. It's got two folding arms for multiple angles and some rubber backing, which helps to keep my iPhone or my iPad in place. I rarely use the stand with my iPad, but I'll let my kids prop my iPad on the stand when I'm in a pinch.

The stand is more expensive than most, but I've been using it for more than three years now without any issues.

The R1 is currently Amazon's Choice, and it's also my choice.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.