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Graphene-X Everything Proof Series : FirstLook

Graphene-X has always been at the bleeding edge of clothing technologies. RainyDayMagazine has had some experience with their offerings, and has always been impressed [...]
Northern Lights, Comets, and Full Moons…Oh My!!!

The Northern Lights and other such sights are often visible only in locations in the Far North (also known as The Arctic). Because viewing opportunities outside The Arctic [...]
Dyson V8 Animal : Vacuum w/o cords

V8 Animal Someone in the local Buy Nothing group was giving away a Dyson V8 Animal vacuum stick with all the attachments, tools, and bits. Apparently, the vacuum had a [...]
Schaaf Wood Carving Tools: FirstLook

During our summer vacation we completed a project we began quite a while back: we decorated the post we made for our mat cutting practice by carving a dragon pattern into it. [...]
Oreck XL Vacuum: DIY repair

We have had an Oreck vacuum cleaner since 2005. The machine is light-weight, easy to maneuver, and has powerful suction. It is also quiet, works well on bare and carpeted [...]
DJI Neo : FirstLook

We looked at quadcopters—what we all call “drones”—back in 2005 and again in 2012. They were…interesting, but required too much user interaction to be [...]
The Galobart Books: Codex Madrid I

Leonardo di Vinci’s works, paintings, and inventions have fascinated the world, inspired generations of engineers, and had long ago captivated our imagination. We have [...]
COFB X-Pak EVO Sling Pack: FirstLook

A backpack is something everyone is familiar with, has used, and probably owns more than one. We certainly have reviewed many over the years, our favorites being from Tom [...]
Birding Gear : BlackRapid FirstLook/FirstUse

A few months ago, we took a look at the way we transported the Nikkor 200-500mm lens when we birded (yes, it’s a verb). In that post, we gave a quick mention to two [...]
Tameshigiri Series: FirstCuts

In recent posts to our Tameshigiri series, we showed the carving of the cutting post and the rolling of the tatami mats. With those tasks completed, the remaining two tasks [...]
Tameshigiri Series: Rolling the mats

In the previous installment of the Tameshigiri Series, we showed how we made the post for holding a rolled-up tatami mat for cutting. In this installment, we will detail [...]
Tameshigiri Series: Cutting Post

In 2012 Gleason Sensei briefly considered adding a “live blade” session to Shobu Aikido’s program. His intent was to give his students the opportunity to [...]
On Vacation :-)

We will be on vacation and doing Tai Chi on the beach for the month of August 🙂 Nobody is in charge and will stay that way until the grown ups return in September. Have a [...]
NOT Oakley X-Metal Collection: Mars Leather

We have a couple of pairs of Oakley sunglasses (Juliet, Madman) in our collection. Oakley glasses are instantly recognizable to those who know their X-Metal line. They are [...]
Cirque du Soleil OVO: Backstage

RainyDayMagazine saw Cirque du Soleil CRYSTAL at Boston University’s Agganis Arena a few years ago. Cirque du Soleil OVO premiered in New England at the same arena on [...]
Graphene-X All Rounder Shorts: InTheWild

We have been fans of the clothing from Graphene-X ever since we learned about them in 2021. Their utilization of high tech materials and emphasis on form-follows-function [...]
Birding Gear : Cotton Carrier FirstLook

A few months ago, we took a look at how we transported the Nikkor 200-500mm lens when we were out birding. In that post, we gave a quick mention of two slings which we [...]
Boxster Project: Windshield Maintenance

The only time we think about the wipers on the Boxster is when it rains, but that’s always too late to do anything about the streaking, squeaking, and stuttering. Of [...]
Gardener’s Self-watering Planter: Assembly, Disassembly, Reassembly

Long-time readers of RainyDayMagazine’s RainyDayGarden section know that we have only three rules when it comes to gardening: Don’t water unless absolutely [...]
RainyDayRobins: Nesting, Hatching, Feeding, and Fledging

At the end of May, we noticed that the wooden divider between the RainyDayGarden and our neighbor’s was literally falling apart. We planned on writing an article on the [...]
Snailax Neck and Back Massager: FirstLook

Doing physical work in the RainyDayGarden is hard on the neck and back, which is why we have interns. But working at a desk all day—which is what we do most days—is not [...]
Boxster Project: Headlight Restoration

Some time back we had noticed a slight yellowing around the Litronic headlights of the Porsche Boxster. Not wanting to chance scratching the lens, we thought we could take [...]
Boxster Project: Lid Liner Install

Most of our Boxster DIY projects are repairs, but some are cosmetic, and a few are protective. This project is the “protective” kind, and it took us more time to [...]
Birding in the Backyard (BBY): City Birds

When somebody says that they “went birding,” most people think that they: headed into the woods, or hiked out onto the marsh, or drove to a distant destination, [...]
BeaverLAB Microscopes: FirstLook

RainyDayMagazine has always been deeply interested in various forms of digital microscopy (iPhone, converting old scopes, etc.). We are particularly intrigued and have [...]
Birding Gear : Big lens transport

When we acquired our Nikkor 200-500mm lens, we had to consider the best way to carry the big lens on outings. Together, the zoom lens and D850 body weigh almost 8 pounds (!), [...]