Things I Recommend

ToiletTree Fogless Shower Mirror (Tall)

Why I love it

Shaving in the shower instead of at the sink is a much better way to do it, and a good fogless mirror is what makes it possible. The ToiletTree Fogless Shower Mirror — I have the tall version — stays clear the entire time you’re in there, so you can see what you’re doing.

Two things sold me on shaving in the shower:

• A closer, less irritating shave. The warm water and steam soften everything up first, so the razor glides instead of dragging. I get a closer result with noticeably less irritation than I ever did at the sink.
• No whiskers to clean up. Everything rinses straight down the drain. No more scrubbing a ring of stubble out of the sink when I’m done.

How it works

You fill the back reservoir with warm water before you start, and the mirror stays clear the whole time instead of fogging over once the shower warms up. The tall version gives you enough mirror to see your whole face without crouching, and it mounts solidly to the wall.

It’s widely available — you can find it directly on Amazon.

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Cheap LiDAR-Navigation Robot Vacuums

Why I love it

The absolute step-change in robot vacuum utility happened the moment they could map your floor and plan an efficient, systematic route instead of randomly bumping and veering off in any direction. I still have two Roborock S4 Max bots — one for each floor — and they work perfectly.

I’m highly skeptical of subsequent innovations (like AI-driven obstacle cameras, auto-washing mop docks, or massive base stations). None of those features represent anything close to the original step-change of systematic route planning.

While I love my S4 Max, there are newer models available at a much better price now. In fact, it is entirely possible to get excellent LiDAR mapping for under $150. By skipping the self-emptying docks and advanced mopping systems, you get the exact smart route planning of a premium model without the premium price tag. Both of my recommendations also integrate perfectly with Google Home, letting you start or stop cleans with a quick voice command to Nest speakers.

The Recommendations

• For the Lowest Price: TP-Link Tapo RV20 Max (approx. $120). This is currently the best budget-friendly mapping robot on the market. It has an ultra-slim 3.27-inch profile to fit under low furniture and uses MagSlim LiDAR to map your rooms quickly and efficiently. It keeps costs incredibly low while still offering virtual walls and no-go zones.
• For Roborock Loyalists (vacuum only): Roborock Q7 L5 (approx. $140). A fantastic direct upgrade to the S4 Max, letting you keep all your maps in the same interface you already know. It provides deeper 8,000 Pa suction and dual anti-tangle brushes to handle hair much better than older models. You still get the highly reliable “pin and go” navigation that makes spot-cleaning effortless. One caveat: the mop attachment does not lift, so it will drag the pad over carpets. If you don’t care about mopping, just remove the mop and it works perfectly as a pure vacuum.
• For Roborock Loyalists (vacuum + mopping): Roborock Q10 S5+ (approx. $300). The upgrade pick if you actually want to mop. Unlike the Q7, the Q10 S5+ raises its mop pad when it detects carpet, so you get proper mopping on hard floors without dragging a wet pad across your rugs. This is the model I ended up buying.

The Verdict: If you just want the absolute lowest price for a true mapping robot, the Tapo RV20 Max is an unbeatable deal. For Roborock users who only want vacuuming, the Q7 L5 is a great deal — just skip the mop attachment. If you want vacuuming and mopping, step up to the Q10 S5+.

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The Inline-Six Engine

Why it’s special

The inline-six is, in a very literal mechanical sense, a perfect engine. Six cylinders arranged in a single bank, firing every 120 degrees, produce forces that cancel each other out completely — primary, secondary, and rocking couples all balance to zero. No vibration is left over for the engine mounts to absorb or the steering wheel to transmit. This is not an approximation or a marketing claim; it is a consequence of the geometry.

Technically, a flat-six (like Porsche uses) and a V12 also achieve this. But a flat-six is very wide, and a V12 is very long and very heavy. The inline-six does it in a compact, single-bank package that fits in an ordinary engine bay. Among real-world engine layouts, it is in a class by itself.

What that means in practice is hard to describe until you’ve felt it. There is no buzz, no harshness, no rough edge anywhere in the rev range. It just spins. BMW has built its reputation on this engine family for decades, and it shows.

My two examples

After college, I bought a 1997 BMW 328is — E36 chassis, M52B28 engine, five-speed manual. Naturally aspirated, 2.8 liters, about 190 horsepower in US trim. Not fast by any modern standard, but the way it delivered that power was remarkable. Silky smooth at idle, silky smooth at 6,000 rpm, silky smooth everywhere in between. The manual gearbox made it genuinely fun to drive. It was a genuinely special car.

In November 2025 I bought a 2024 BMW X3 M40i, which runs the B58 — a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six making 382 horsepower. The character is completely different: where the M52 was gentle and rev-happy, the B58 hits hard from the bottom of the rev range and just keeps going. But the smoothness is identical. It is an extremely fast car that somehow still feels refined. The B58 is widely regarded as one of the best engines being made right now, and I think that reputation is entirely deserved.

They are separated by 27 years, one is naturally aspirated and one is turbocharged, and they have almost nothing else in common — but they both have that same quality that you can only get from a perfectly balanced engine.