Linkology: The Best of the Internet for 2/17/12
The Unasked-For, Unawaited ‘Best Of’ Edition
Because I am a “writer” (note the apologetic quotes) and use a rather disgustingly dirty keyboard to post words on the Internet’s bloggertubes, I sometimes get asked questions about what I feel is best. What apps, what restaurants, what whatevers. I’m not kidding. Just because I can sit here like I am now — in ratty Costco fleece pants and an Under Armor hoodie — people think I’m qualified to give advice. Crazy. But today I will indulge that notion, and give you, our Valued Reader, a list of things I think are best. You didn’t ask for it, and you might not care, but you’re here, so maybe just stick around, if for no other reason than to tell me how wrong I am.
Off we go. I warn you: it’s an eclectic collection, imbued heavily with pure subjectivity. Still, you should treat this as fact because you are reading a heavily-trafficked blog.
BEST MICHIGAN RESTAURANT
The Root, in White Lake. Yes, I know they just won restaurant of the year from the Detroit Free Press. Yes, I know that I seem like a total bandwagon slappy. But the truth is I’ve been going to The Root since they opened on Memorial Day last year, and it’s consistently amazing, thanks to chef James Rigato and crew. Them winning ROTY only cements my opinion further, with the added benefit of making it impossible to get in without a reservation. Thanks a lot, Free Press.
BEST PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT
Bang for buck, it’s Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard Natural Whey. No garbage, very low carbs, no artificial sweeteners, all for a very reasonable price. I order the 5 lb. tubs from Amazon, because then giant things come to my porch and make me feel loved. If you want to go the grass-fed whey route, then check out PaleoMeal by Designs for Health. It’s more expensive, but it also gives you some cofactors like creatine if you do heavy gym work. If you want grass-fed without the creatine, check out Whey Cool (also by Designs for Health) or All-Pro Science.
I just listed four when I was only supposed to do one. See how quickly this idea unravels?
BEST MIRRORLESS CAMERA
3rd generation, or ‘mirrorless’ cameras are all the rage right now. They’re smaller, lack the mirror of a DSLR, and have interchangeable lens systems. What’s more, these things have insane burst rates and, in some models, picture quality that rivals or exceeds mid-level DSLRs.
I have tried several models of these things, because I get sick of lugging around a giant DSLR that screams TOURIST! everywhere I go. I also don’t want to carry around a point-and-shoot compact anymore, because my iPhone 4S has obviated that entire class of camera.
My pick? The Sony NEX-5N. It’s small, has an APS-C sensor, and has image quality that is better than my Nikon D90 in most cases. There’s even an adapter for the Sony to use Nikon glass, something I have quite a lot of. The NEX-5N is a true flagship of the mirrorless camera crowd right now, and the more I use it the more I realize that DLSRs have a real issue on their hands.
BEST COFFEE
Pretty much anything from Stumptown Coffee Roasters. Not kidding. I prefer the Guatemala Finca Grand Cru, but you can’t go wrong with any of their roasts.
BEST COFFEE MAKER
I’m not going to lie to you — I kick it old school in this area. I recommend anything by Technivorm, because they do one thing really well: make coffee. There’s no timer function, no beeping when the coffee is done, no robotic voice to tell you you look nice today. No bells and whistles. Just a machine that kicks out great coffee day after day, flawlessly, with no exceptions. I have the CD10 model, but all of them are amazing.
BEST MINIMALIST TRAINING/RUNNING SHOE
I tried a ton of them: Nike Frees, Inov8s, Merrill Trail Gloves, you name it. The best, far and away, is the New Balance MX20 Nimbus. If you need something more rugged for actual outdoor trail running, get the MT20. Both are fantastic for indoor workouts, and if you’re a CrossFit jerk like me, you’ll find these shoes are excellent, especially for the Olympic lifts.
BEST THING TO CALL YOUR REALLY EXPENSIVE CAT
We call him ‘Stinky’ a lot (even though he’s not), but I prefer ‘Two Months in Fiji’, because yeah. Not cheap.
BEST THING TO DO WHEN YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF ‘BEST OF’ IDEAS
Make up product categories.
BEST COLD-FUSION POWERED TOOTHBRUSH AND MP3 PLAYER
The Quatum Spaceworks Swami. Made of titanium, Darth Vader’s helmet, and the sum disgrace of all reality television. Available nowhere.
Have a great weekend, everyone.
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More links:
MIPRO Consulting main website.
