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Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

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Re: Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

#181

Post by B5C8ECB24DB47D1 »

A dynamo hub for my bicycle. I don't have to worry anymore about charging battery packs. I always have the lights on, no matter what. I just don't think about it now, I know it's on. Decent quality wet trousers, overshoes and jacket are also a great addition. I don't mind leaving home or work when it's raining and I know I will be dry enough at the end ; apart for face and hands. Which makes me think that a proper pair of gloves should be next.

Wet stones to sharpen my knives. Although I probably don't sharpen them often enough, I do enjoy the process and having razor sharp blades afterwards is very pleasing.

Re: Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

#183

Post by kinow »

adamredwoods wrote: post #136

A Wacom tablet, years ago, when I was working in the graphic arts. Compared to a mouse, the change in my daily ergonomics was astounding, because using a mouse would hurt my entire arm. When I switching to a tablet (using a custom mouse mode), the mouse click was replaced by tapping the tablet which saved my entire career. Although, fast-forward 10 years, now I do full-stack programming, so I don't use it anymore.

Similar to my case. I have an old Wacom Intuos, and have slowly been doing less Python/Java and spending more of spare time re-learning how to use the tablet. Might even buy a new one, although looks like other brands caught up and their hardware/drivers work as well as Wacom's.

Re: Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

#184

Post by scpedicini »

zuhsetaqi wrote: post #117
iconjack wrote: post #108

Youtube Premium for $10/month. No ads to break your focus.

Or just use uBlock origin which is free

Every time YouTube premium comes up, somebody mentions ublock origin failing to realize that a lot of people use devices other than a personal computer to watch videos (chrome cast, smart tv, phone, etc).

Re: Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

#185

Post by amelius »

k__ wrote: post #158
williamstein wrote: post #79

A bidet to save on toilet paper and improvement the quality of your life. I learned about bidets from a HN post a few years ago. Any bidet is pretty good compared to nothing and they are surprisingly easy to install.

It's more hygienic Also, buying and carrying toilet paper is not really practical.

Embarrassed to say but I use a normal toilet and sometimes I try to flush skid marks away using the shower head (from my bath-tub) in strong jet mode. However, this is often quite difficult, which makes me believe that the bidet isn't all that hygienic ...

Re: Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

#186

Post by shric »

alpaca128 wrote: post #114
iconjack wrote: post #108

Youtube Premium for $10/month. No ads to break your focus.

An ad-blocker does the same for free. And both methods don't get rid of sponsor ads within the video.

The extension "SponsorBlock" works well for desktop browsers, it accepts user contributed segments to cut out sponsorships.

Re: Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

#187

Post by gregoriol »

hatchnyc wrote: post #20

This is very easy for me, I bought a Boosted Rev electric scooter last year. It cut my commute time nearly in half compared to biking to work (before covid), I don't arrive hot and sweaty in summer and in winter a helmet with a visor keeps me totally warm. It is powerful and sturdy enough that my wife and I can ride together, now that's how we get around Manhattan. All the benefits of a car + bike in a smaller packag…

+1 for electric scooter: life changing for me in Paris, France => spend more time outside, travel times as fast as subway but more enjoyable, a (very little) bit of phyiscal activity, ...

I'd recommend one with removable/swappable batteries: it's very nice to be able to have 2 of them for a long day.

Re: Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

#188

Post by amelius »

faebi wrote: post #175

My own car. I had a driving license all my life but never bothered to buy one because public transport in switzerland is cheap and good enough for a single person. The situation changed now: I am not alone anymore and Corona happened. I do not plan to use public transport on regular basis in my life anymore. It is unimaginable to me how we did groceries before. Also we can save some money by buying more in bulk. It's…

Just beware: owning a car is linked to less physical activity and weight gain ...

Re: Ask HN: What did you purchase that measurably improved your quality of life?

#189

Post by amelius »

vijay_nair wrote: post #99

Supplements, especially L-DOPA (amazing mood improvement and libido boost), L-citrulline (libido and energy boost) and niacin. There are other supplements¹ in my stack but these three stand out as the effects are near immediate, measured in mere minutes/hours. ¹zinc methionine, L-taurine, Ashwagandha, Boswellia serrata, fish oil, cod liver oil, vitamins B1, B2, B6, B9, B12, C , D, K, calcium, resveratrol.

How long have you been on the exact same stack?
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