Things

The GOAT task chair, found mine brand new on Craigslist for less than $400. We have his/hers.

Rock solid and (IMO) aesthetic standing desk. Owned since 2019 and hasn’t aged a day. Four programmable sit/stand heights allow me to dial in several modes perfectly. I prefer the curved bamboo top as it feels more ergonomic to my way of working. The 48-in width is perfect for me; fits everything I need with just enough space to encourage minimalism and eschew clutter. I chose the white frame to seamlessly blend in with my house’s trim. It’s highly configurable, so you can make it whatever you want (frame color, type/shape of wood surface, sizes, accessories). We have his/hers.

High quality webcam (toggle off/on and zoom controlled via Elgato Stream Deck+)

Great light for video calls with adjustable brightness and warmth (controlled via Elgato Stream Deck+)

Excellent controller for apps and peripherals like my microphone, camera, and light. I also use this to launch common links, raise my hand in Zoom, and control Spotify. Review here

Perfectly matches my Uplift Desk white frame and very stable with my huge, ultrawide monitor.

A commercial grade anti-fatigue mat is a necessity for prolonged standing desk usage, especially if your office floor is slab-on-grade like mine. I had trouble standing for more than an hour until I got this. I’ve had it since 2013 and it is a squishy as the day I got it.

I’ve previously written about how this keyboard solved my wrist issues within days. For wrist pain due to RSI, almost all roads lead to this keyboard. It doesn’t win any awards for aesthetics but I enjoy not being in severe pain while working. It’s very easy to learn to type on; you’ll be back at full speed in under a week. I like the Cherry MX Brown switch option. Note: It’s a little loud, but both my OpenComm2 headset and AirPod Pros filter out the sound of this keyboard, so I can type during calls no problem.

I bought this award-winning desk lamp after Paul Stamatiou recommended it. A single knob controls the intensity and warmth of the light. The exposed red cable just makes the aesthetics so, so good.

Transparent mount that improves video call eye contact by placing my camera at the center of my monitor.

This rigid/thick plastic mat is amazing. Ships flat in a box. It’s almost completely transparent. This means it blends well with your carpet and also doesn’t roll up like cheap vinyl ones, but lays perfectly flat. Small traction studs prevent it from sliding too much

It’s not uncommon for me to be on marathon video calls, so these are great since I don’t have to keep my ears plugged or covered all day. With bone conduction, I feel like can still hear what’s going on around me. The battery lasts for days and the microphone noise filtering is incredible (no keyboard/typing picked up). No fussy bluetooth connectivity issues; I leave the usb dongle plugged into a hub at my desk. I could do without the call center vibe.

I tested almost every major EDC brand (Goruck, Evergoods, AER, Peak Design, 1733, Tom Bihn, Mystery Ranch, Bellroy) and … this Tumi backpack was the unlikely winner. This probably warrants a full review, but this bag basically does it all for me. Works in any work setting. Very compact for daily use; expands for travel. Sensible organization and access. I’m that guy now.

Cult classic tote bag that finds a myriad of uses in my life. Perfectly designed.

I almost never leave home without this. Stealth, minimalist, functional. Holder of car key, sunglasses, AirPods, chapstick, protein bar, etc. It goes in my Tumi backpack if I’m carrying my computer.

The only charger in my bag for daily use or travel. I love that I can fast-charge my MacBook Pro with this, along with phone, AirPods, etc.

Aesthetic, “unflippable”, fits comfortably in my backpack. I like that the canopy spins on the shaft and reduces unnecessary torque/fatigue. Plus my favorite color.

I keep one in my backpack and one on my desk. The texture, magnets, smooth turns are wonderful. I enjoy as a fidget toy on calls and am gradually getting faster.

I own multiple pairs and use them everywhere: Planes, airports, subways, loud restaurants, live music, when my kids are being loud and I need to concentrate. Protect your hearing!

We have maybe 10 of these. I have one in every bag, at my desk, bedside table, violin case. Great for massaging neck/shoulders against a wall. I use a lot on my forearms when playing a lot of violin.

Not a big knife person, but this meets all my knife requirements: Opening boxes and fulfilling dad pocketknife responsibilities at kid birthday parties and Christmas. Found via The Brooks Review.

Delightful, frivolous, and stochastic. We have this installed at a focal point, set to update every 15-30 minutes. Go to the website and listen to the sound of the flaps flapping. Favorite Vestaboard+ channels: Famous art, dad jokes, tv quotes (Friends, Arrested Development, Ted Lasso), Star Wars quotes, famous song lyrics, Pokemon stats, the weather. I never know what will be on it when I walk through our central hallway, and I often walk away with a song lyric, cinematic scene, or new thought planted in my head. So it interjects some joyful randomness in my day. When I travel for work, it’s fun to send a message to display for the family during dinner (it’s in our kitchen).

The Serious TV People are twitching right now, but we love ours. Like the Vestaboard, it introduces rotating art in a prominent spot in our home. I recommend pairing it with a wooden DECO TV frame.

Takes the Samsung Frame art mode WAY to the next level aesthetically.

Our favorite local art gallery in Atlanta. The ~10 paintings we’ve purchased here have profoundly elevated the beauty of our home. This painting by Erin McIntosh hangs in our master bath.

Calder-style mobile currently mounted above our kitchen island. Scott at MODmobiles was an incredible collaborator. We extracted key colors from a painting in our kitchen and he colormatched and hand-painted just like Calder!

Delightfully aesthetic carbonator. I recommend SimpliSoda for refillable C02 canister service (they send you two refilled canisters at a time, you send back two used canisters, repeat). Only complaint is the water bottles are not dishwasher safe.

Wonderful gooseneck kettle for our daily pourovers.

My pourover daily driver, just right for my single cup per day, dishwasher safe, could not be simpler.

I doubt a cozier throw blanket exists.

Deeply calming/grounding to me, recommended by a good friend. We have this installed on our front porch and I can hear from both our bedroom and my home office. The tones are tuned to an ascending A B C# E F# A and you can hear a recording on the linked product page. For super windy nights, I recommend you try to find a Chimeout Windchime Silencer.

Aesthetic, huge fire safe with fast access via biometric/fingerprint, keycode, and physical key unlocking modes. Bolts to the floor and wall. Surprise finding: Once you have a proper safe you will regularly identify additional unexpected items that belong in it. This could be used to store different types of larger things, but remember my musical hobby?

This beauty is a collab between Roland and Japanese furniture maker Karimoku: technology meets artisan craftsmanship. Sounds, looks, feels incredible. Check out the videos on Roland’s KF-10 page. It’s expensive but honestly comparably priced to a “real” piano; but way less space and we can play at night while our kids sleep.

The Audiophiles are twitching right now, but connected audio throughout our house is awesome. We have a fairly basic setup as far as Sonos goes (Beam, Sub, several Ones, several Roams). Connecting rooms is easy and still feels like magic when I walk through our house and the music continues.

Lifechanging. Heated seat, heated water, a billion modes/angles/patterns, auto open/close, and programmable multiuser presets. I recommend having an electrician run dedicated power.

Dual zone, biometrically-driven, personalized temperature control through each sleep stage. My wife was skeptical but fell in love the first night. Incredible solution when one partner runs hot and the other runs cold. Hard to sleep anywhere else now.

Just buy this instead of more expensive mouth tape-specific products. Cheap, works great. We have on Amazon Subscribe and Save.

Love the aesthetic, organization, and ease of use. We have one for each family member; the wheels are smooth enough that even my youngest kid can manage it. Jet black to match my Tumi backpack.

I have extremely mild sleep apnea (barely meet the threshold) but find CPAP makes a tremendous difference in my energy levels. This device is only 5.5 x 3 x 2 inches, humidifies without requiring distilled water, and takes minimal space in my carry-on. I recommend the ultra minimal AirFit P10 mask. Can even run on a battery when camping. Expensive but worth it if you travel a lot.

Very handy power strip. Good complement to my Anker power supply. Often unnecesary but when I need it, I need it.

Versatile shoe that is my daily driver except for date night. Altra is famous for its wide toe box and zero drop heel. Great for day to day, great for travel. I’ve even done scrambly hikes in Yosemite Valley with these.

My daily work from home, errand, and travel pant.

My standard for date night or work travel.

Best daily driver t-shirt for tech worker I’ve found so far. I have several in black and other colors.

Looks great in most settings, works almost year-round in ATL, awesome as a base layer when I travel to cold places. Compresses to the size of a baseball in my backpack. Machine washable. I like the Forge Grey colorway.

I have several of these in OCBD and a few other colors/materials. My standard button down for date night or work travel.

Simple, unbranded black hat. Packable, waterproof, moisture-wicking, and 4-way stretch. Good for the morning bus stop, errands, and travel.

I worked directly with Dmitri Musafia in Cremona, Italy to commission my custom Musafia case. It took months to arrive and it’s wonderful. Aesthetic, classic, strong. Full review forthcoming.

Forscore paired with an iPad Pro, the Apple Pencil, and a Bluetooth page turner is incredible. It’s like what Kindle did for books. In this one device/app, I have almost the full repertoire for the violin available: Violin concertos, scale systems, etude books, symphonic parts, chamber music.

The best there is. Designed and manufactured by a local chamber music friend of mine.

Undisputed GOAT pencil for marking up sheet music.

Sharpen your Blackwing pencils with this

Not super picky about rosin but I like this one. I like the hard plastic case. Comes with an interesting rosin spreader in the base of the case.

Popular among classical musicians due to sound quality. Especially helpful for second violinists seated near woodwinds or percussion, which is me on occasion. Very important to preserve my hearing.

Loud and easy to operate. I prefer it to using phone metronome apps (distractions).

For my technique/posture, this shoulder provides unparalleled stability and lack of tension in my body.

Wonderful stand when performing chamber music or iPad-only. I like that it doesn’t block the audience or the performer’s view. Sturdy and packs small.

Best paired with a Blackwing pencil. Pencil jumps out of your hand to stick to your music stand vertical shaft.

It just works. Reliable, rugged, and always connects right away.

Perfect for gigs and rehearsals. Everybody I know has one. FYI if you get the aluminum one, your Blackwing pencil+magnet won’t stick to it, ask me how I know. :)

I love these so much.

Recommend this comfortable/stretchy strap for use with your violin case. It has some elastic “give” that makes the case float on your shoulder. Especially helpful when your case is packed out with iPad, Bluetooth pedal, etc.

It was game over the second I saw this. Beautiful visually and sonically. Reduces sound but retains sonic character better than rubber mutes.

Great high quality recorder. I use the microphones for online/Zoom lessons. Great for recording yourself during practice, recording lessons/rehearsals, etc.