Buy Adam

So, I tried the Gillette Fusion Power (the new 5-bladed razor).

For the first time since I’ve started shaving, they’ve introduced a new razor where I really can’t tell the difference between the new one and the previous one. Each of the models before this has been a marked improvement over its predecessor. This one – not so much. It may actually be ever so slightly worse. It feels somewhat smoother, but also not quite as close. The M3Power was a near-perfect compromise on that front.

Honestly, it’s difficult to tell, because they’re both great. If you have an M3Power, I see no reason to change. If you don’t, this is a fine alternative.

I don’t use a lot of butter at the table, but I do use it pretty frequently in cooking. With even just a very little bit, it adds a tremendous depth, body, and flavor to most kinds of cooking.

Yes, I’m firmly in the “butter is good” camp.

I keep a stick in the fridge in one of these, at the ready. It sounds stupid, but it’s very convenient to not dirty another knife or deal with loose shards of butter and oiled paper in the fridge. Especially when you forget and realize you need it immediately in the middle of a recipe while something else is cooking. It’s a small thing, but I like it. Butter is best stored in the freezer for any length of time, so it’s easy to pull out a stick, unwrap it while it’s still frozen, and pop it in. (Note: butter for cooking should always be unsalted, so you can adjust the salt yourself as you go.)

If you’re the spready type, this is also pretty good at shaving off thin slivers that melt quickly.

My only complaint is that the basic white model is kind of fragile plastic. I’ve broken two of them over the years – once when I dropped it, and once when trying to cut through frozen butter. But they’re cheap enough to replace. I’ve linked to the “Pro” model, which looks a bit more durable.

Buy the Buttermate from Amazon.

I first bought this printer in 2000, for $500. It’s still a great photo printer, with vibrant colors, great paper support (borderless on some sizes up to 13″x19″), pretty fast, and very high resolution.

Today, I noticed that Amazon has it for $360 plus a $100 rebate. At this price, I think this is an outstanding deal.

Buy the Epson Stylus 1280 from Amazon.com.

It was just impossible for me to sit up straight in my old chair, which had no back support at all. I knew it had to be replaced when I found myself adjusting the center post every 20 minutes. I hate most office chairs – they’re not tall enough, and they have the wrong kinds of adjustments. I like the Aerons and Mirras, but they’re pretty expensive, even used.

This chair is a pretty good compromise – not too expensive, tall (it’s the only chair I could find that I could sit in comfortable at less than the maximum height), and with a good lumbar support.

Plus, it’s on sale this week and staples.com has free delivery.

Buy the Situations Mesh Manager’s Chair at Staples.

They call it a “Jelly Roll” pan, but it’s really just a standard half-sheet pan. These pans are incredibly versatile, and Chicago Metallic makes very heavy duty ones that will last a long time. They’re good for everything from baking cookies to roasting lots of asparagus. If you use it for long enough, you might actually even be tempted to make a jelly roll, although I’ve never heard of such a thing.

Combine it with a Silpat liner or parchment paper for non-stick cooking.

Buy Chicago Metallic Half Sheet Pan from Amazon.