Hanging with Paulie: Reviews, Rides, and Regrets… All for Your Benefit…and entertainment
Eufy HOME Base: Home Run or Bunt?
From dodging mountain bike thieves to catching the occasional wandering moose, home security is a priority—but what happens if someone walks off with your camera and your footage? After hitting a wall trying to set up my own server, I caved and bought the $200 Eufy HomeBase 3. Here is my honest take on whether this subscription-free backup solution is a home run or a bunt for your home security setup.
Honda’s Ridgeline: A Funny-Looking Truck I Can’t Quit
It might look a little funny, but the Honda Ridgeline is a masterclass in practical engineering. From its ingenious in-bed trunk and dual-action tailgate to its smooth, car-like ride, discover why this unconventional truck is the ultimate adventure companion that’s impossible to give up.
The Honda Ridgeline: Great Snow Truck, Questionable Looks, and a Valvoline Oil Experiment
From brutal Montana blizzards to 170,000+ reliable miles, the Honda Ridgeline proved its worth—even if its looks take getting used to. Now, we’re putting Valvoline’s "Restore & Protect" oil to a real-world test to clear out engine sludge. Here’s our full story and honest maintenance breakdown.
How about a day trip to the SUN!
Thinking about driving Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park? From navigating narrow mountain passes and bypassing Logan Pass parking headaches to taking a hop across the Canadian border to Waterton Lakes, here is a proven strategy to make the most of this iconic drive.
The Best Free Tour in Missoula: Smoke Jumpers, Airplanes, and Spam (Not the annoying e-mail kind!)
Looking for a cheap family activity in Missoula? The Smokejumper Visitor Center offers a fascinating free tour featuring smokejumper gear, parachutes, aircraft, wildfire history, lookout cabins, and even Spam. This is worth your time!
Toyota: Remember Your Brand…. We Want the Hilux
Toyota may have forgotten what made its trucks great: simplicity, durability, and the ability to go almost anywhere. Here’s why I want this simple, affordable, manual-transmission Hilux in America.
Guarding the Gear: Eufy Camera
If you have bikes, kayaks, paddleboards, or other gear that tends to spend time outside, keeping an eye on it can be a challenge. I installed a Eufy solar security camera to cover a blind spot around our house and watch the gear in and around our “half truck.” The promise of battery power, solar charging, simple installation, local storage, and no monthly subscription made this camera especially interesting. Here is how the setup and installation went—and my first impressions after putting it to work.
Starlink Internet: Worth it? Yeah, I think so
My internet bill kept climbing, so I decided to give Starlink a try. In this real-world Starlink review, I walk through the installation, temporary setup, activation, internet speeds, WiFi performance, and connecting it to my Firewalla router. After putting it through its paces, would I recommend Starlink as an alternative to traditional internet service? So far, the answer is yes.
Speed Run….ALMOST!
After thermal shutdown kept stopping my Arrma Fury speed runs, I traced the problem to the EC5-to-Deans adapter. I replaced the adapter with a direct Deans connection, tested the truck, and finally got a 25 MPH run in the grass without triggering the ESC thermal protection. Now I just need a bigger parking lot for the real speed run.
Arrma Fury Brushless Speed Test: Does it Top at 40MPH?
Join the "village idiot" for a high-speed GPS test of an upgraded Arrma Fury short course RC truck! Discover how a brushless motor upgrade performs on 2S and 3S power, the challenges of thermal shutdown, tire choices for dirt tracks, and whether this budget-friendly rig can truly break the 40 MPH barrier. Read the full review and find out!
From Brushed to Bonkers: Arrma Fury Goes Brushless
Tired of constantly servicing brushes and chasing unreliable speed? When an accidental warranty mix-up from Horizon Hobby landed a brushless speed control on my doorstep, it was the push I needed to finally ditch the brushed setup on our Arrma Fury.
In this post, we dive into the messy, hilarious process of upgrading to a Spektrum 4000KV 550 brushless motor—complete with transmitter calibration mix-ups, backward servo plugs, and a chassis that now pulls full-on wheelies in the dirt. If you are on the fence about whether to make the jump from brushed to brushless, grab a wrench and find out why the upgrade is well worth the chaos.
Traxxas Mini Slash: Meh or Yuhhhh!
After 10–15 runs, the Traxxas Mini Slash delivers sturdy 1/18-scale short-course fun that survives crashes, but the rubber bumper, tissue-paper body, and middling stock tires hold it back. Best bought at $250 or less while waiting for aftermarket support.
Blog Update: Mac Mini M4 SSD Emergency Surgery
Is upgrading the Mac Mini M4's internal SSD worth it? I'll take you through the process of replacing the factory storage, the tools you'll need, the challenges I encountered, and whether it's a practical upgrade for everyday users. If you're considering more storage without buying a new Mac, this guide will help you decide if the upgrade is worth the effort.
Road Trip: Zeppelin and Hobbytown Hobby Stores
Explore my visit to HobbyTown in Sioux Falls and Zeppelin Hobbies in Bloomington. Discover RC racing, slot car clubs, knowledgeable staff, and why local hobby shops still matter.
World’s Largest Truck Stop?
A spontaneous stop at the World's Largest Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa became one of the highlights of our family road trip. Between classic trucks, the Iowa Trucking Museum, good food, and an unforgettable conversation with a motorcyclist riding Route 66, this roadside attraction proved that the best travel memories are often unplanned.
Next Stop: Columbus Zoo
After an eight-hour drive across Pennsylvania and into Ohio, our family finally made it to the Columbus Zoo. It is a destination inspired by a favorite animal vet show and plenty of family votes. From lions and cheetahs to kangaroos and hyenas, we explored some incredible exhibits, enjoyed a relaxing lunch, and made memories that will last for years. If you're planning a road trip through Ohio, here's why the Columbus Zoo deserves a spot on your itinerary.
Sandy Hook
Step back in time at Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse in the United States. From Revolutionary War history and scenic bike paths to military sites and stunning ocean views, discover why this New Jersey landmark is worth adding to your East Coast road trip itinerary.
The Intrepid Museum
The USS Intrepid survived torpedoes, kamikaze attacks, and decades of military service before becoming one of New York City's most fascinating museums. Join our family as we explore the famous aircraft carrier, tour a Cold War submarine, navigate NYC by ferry, and discover whether the Intrepid Museum is worth adding to your vacation itinerary.
Our Half Road Trip
Road trips have a way of creating memories, both good and bad. After a difficult journey last year for my father-in-law's funeral, our family wanted to redeem the road trip experience by visiting my 91-year-old mother in New Jersey and attending a family wedding in Iowa. The solution was an unusual one: fly east and drive home in a rental Chrysler Pacifica. Along the way, we discovered the strengths and weaknesses of modern minivan travel. While the Pacifica delivered impressive fuel economy, strong highway performance, and plenty of cargo space, its touchscreen controls, overactive safety alerts, and cramped second-row seating made long days on the road less enjoyable for taller passengers. In the end, the van got us home safely, helped create new family memories, and proved that sometimes the journey itself is the story worth telling.
Pinewood Beauty Contest
What do you do when your pinewood derby car is built for speed instead of looks? You get creative. Follow the story of our “Gouda Speed” pinewood derby car as we turned a simple wedge design into an award-winning beauty contest champion using Cricut masking, airbrushing, and a lot of perseverance. Along the way, we discovered that determination and creativity can turn even a block of wood into a life lesson.