Month: March 2026

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Wireless CarPlay is a Simple and Huge Quality of Life Upgrade (Review)

Okay, so this is clearly an Amazon product name. Where else would you expect to find something named 2026 Wireless CarPlay Adapter for iPhone – No Audio Lag, 5s Auto-Connect- Convert Factory Wired to Wireless CarPlay – Bluetooth 5.3 & 5GHz Wi-Fi – Plug & Play (Includes USB A/C)? Prior to buying this unit this weekend, I have been using wired CarPlay with my Kia EV6. I love CarPlay! (I don’t care for the occasional failure of my phone and car to connect, which – thankfully – hasn’t happened for a while.) But I don’t like having to plug the phone in every time I get into the car, or disconnecting the cable when I get out. This is especially annoying in the winter when the car hasn’t warmed up and I have thick gloves on. Not a great experience.

Enter the… here we go again… 2026 Wireless CarPlay Adapter for iPhone – No Audio Lag, 5s Auto-Connect- Convert Factory Wired to Wireless CarPlay – Bluetooth 5.3 & 5GHz Wi-Fi – Plug & Play (Includes USB A/C)! What is it? A small – thumb-drive sized – USB/Bluetooth adapter. Instead of plugging the phone in via cable, I just plug this in to the CarPlay/Android Auto USB port and… voila! My phone is connected. It really is that simple.

Setup took about a minute. Simply pair the adapter like you would any new Bluetooth device and go. As for performance, I could not tell any difference between wired and wireless. No perceptible lag time.

The only drawback is now I need to use a separate USB port to charge the phone via its MagSafe adapter. Fortunately the EV6 has 4 charging ports under the media/climate controls cluster, so it’s not a problem finding a spare.

This is a worthwhile lifestyle upgrade. It’s so nice to get in to the car and be able to just drive with no fiddling with cables or phones. If you like CarPlay, you’ll LOVE wireless CarPlay!

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Review: Marvel’s The Ultimates: The Tomorrow Men

I devoured yet another Marvel Comics audiobook adaptation from GraphicAudio – The Ultimates: Tomorrow Men. Yet another well done work with stellar voice acting. The actors portraying Tony Stark and Bruce Banner sound especially similar to Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo, so if you’re a fan of the MCU, they’ll help make you feel right at home.

No spoilers, but in this adventure, five mysterious visitors arrive, purporting to be from the future and here (now?) to save this timeline from the disastrous future that it will become. How will the Ultimates respond? Are they really good guys, or do they have an ulterior motive? And of course, will the Ultimates’ own internal conflicts tear them apart before they can even get to that? Pick up your unabridged copy today and find out.

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Review: Civil War

I just finished Civil War – the audiobook adaptation of the epic Marvel Comics storyline which pit Iron Man and Captain America – and their associated allies – against each other in an epic confrontation that shook the Marvel Universe. This series also was the basis for the Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Captain America: Civil War, but note that the movie takes significant turns from the comic series (which is to be expected given the big screen adaptations they have to make).

The narrator omits the need for character exposition I’ve heard in other audiobook adaptations. Several of the same Graphic Audio voice actors who portray characters in other novels reappear in Civil War, most notably James Keegan as Captain America, Richard Cutting as Iron Man. The voice actors really bring the story to life, and bring the full spectrum of emotions to the performance.

Note that there are some changes from the comics – it is not a 1:1 reading of the comics like a script, so you may be in for a pleasant surprise by this adaptation if you have read the originals. Maybe needless to say, there are also very significant differences from the movie adaptation, as it differed greatly from the comics.

If you like comics, like audiobooks, and – like me – don’t always have the time to sit down and page through them, I highly recommend this adaptation of Civil War!

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Review: The Ultimates: Against All Enemies

Last weekend I finished The Ultimates: Against All Enemies. Produced by Graphic Audio, this is a high-quality production read by talented voice actors. They really bring the characters to life (especially Tony Stark/Iron Man)!

I won’t go to deeply into the plot, but in summary, the Chitauri suffered a defeat at the hands of the Ultimates, but they’re not gone! Reminiscent of other recent Marvel storielines adapted from comics, they have infiltrated the highest levels of government, and the AvengersUltimates have to work with Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D. to root out and vanquish the threat.

The only complaint I have is that Bruce Banner appears in only a couple of scenes, and doesn’t turn into the Hulk. But Hank Pym as Giant Man fills the role of belligerent jerk hero.

If you like the AvengersUltimates, and appreciate high quality voice acting – not just a good narrator reading a book – you’ll enjoy The Ultimates: Against All Enemies.

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Mushrooms

Do you eat mushrooms? Do you eat them for their nutritional and therapeutic benefits? I’ve been taking Cordyceps for a couple of years now, mostly because they’re one of the few supplements I can actually feel an effect from. I started taking Cordyceps in 2022 when training for my first ultramarathon in the summer when 80˚F was a cool day.

My neighbor just turned me on to these guys. I’m curious but haven’t tried them yet!

Mushroom Powder Supplement 2200mg – Organic Lions Mane, Reishi, Cordyceps, Chaga, Turkey Tail Mushroom Extract

I’ve tried various Lions Mane, Reishi, and Chaga supplements and never felt anything from them, so I stopped. But since this has cordyceps too, I am curious to see if they benefit me.

Now, unrelated to this, she also recommended a calcium based anti-aging serum. I totally have not tried this one yet and am not endorsing it… yet!