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Why I’ll Never Go to Another Concert Without My Musician’s Earplugs

I go to several concerts a year, and I enjoy them so much more now that I have musician’s earplugs. Yes, it’s important to protect your hearing from tinnitus and hearing damage. But I mainly just love how they make the music sound so much better.

Normal foam earplugs muffle the sound, as if you put pillows over your ears. You lose all the clarity and detail that makes live music special. Musician’s earplugs keep perfect fidelity across all frequencies. It’s a night and day difference.

Getting Custom Earplugs

You pay around $100 for ear impressions from a local audiologist or hearing doctor. I went to Dr. Elizabeth Hoehl, who does this work frequently and knows exactly what musicians and concert-goers need.

Dr. Elizabeth Hoehl
124 Park Street, SE
Suite 202
Vienna, VA 22180
(703) 791-1072

My Setup

I ordered from Sensaphonics in Chicago and got their ER Series plugs in translucent. I personally went with -15 decibel filters, which work great for most concerts. You can talk to the people at Sensaphonics to see what would be best for you – if you go to heavy metal shows, you might want stronger filters.

I also got filter locks to make sure they stay secure. The total cost was around $210.

The Learning Curve

Custom earplugs do take some effort to learn how to put in your ears properly. But once you get the technique down, they fit perfectly and make the concert experience super enjoyable. You can actually hear the music better, talk to friends between sets, and walk out without that ringing in your ears.

Trust me – if you’re a regular concert-goer, this is one of the best investments you’ll make.

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Maximize Your Reading: How to Get Library Cards from Every DC Area County

Living in the DC metropolitan area comes with an amazing perk that many people don’t know about: most library systems in the Washington region allow residents of other jurisdictions to get a library card without paying a non-resident fee through reciprocal agreements. This means you can collect library cards from multiple counties and dramatically expand your access to books, especially through digital platforms like Libby!

Arlington Central Library

Complete List of Participating DC Area Library Systems

Here are all the jurisdictions where you can get a free library card if you live anywhere in the participating reciprocal network:

District of Columbia

  • Washington, DC

Maryland

  • Montgomery County
  • Prince George’s County
  • Frederick County

Virginia Counties and Cities

  • Arlington County
  • Fairfax County
  • Loudoun County
  • Prince William County
  • Fauquier County
  • Alexandria
  • Falls Church
  • Manassas and Manassas Park

Why Collect Multiple Library Cards?

Having multiple library cards gives you access to:

  1. Larger Digital Collections: Each library system has its own collection of ebooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines on Libby/OverDrive
  2. Shorter Wait Times: Popular books might have long wait lists at one library but be immediately available at another
  3. Unique Titles: Some books are only available in certain library systems
  4. Multiple Holds: You can place holds on the same popular book at multiple libraries to get it faster

How to Use This System

  1. Get Your Cards: Visit any library location in these jurisdictions with a photo ID and proof of address from any participating area
  2. Download Libby: The Libby app lets you manage all your library cards in one place
  3. Add All Your Cards: In Libby, you can add library cards from multiple systems
  4. Search and Reserve: When you want a book, search across all your libraries to find the shortest wait time
  5. Read Anywhere: Use Libby on your phone/tablet, or transfer books to your Kobo ereader, Kindle, or other devices

The Historical Background

The reciprocal agreement between Prince George’s, Montgomery, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties dates back to 1969 and the City of Falls Church was added in 1973. In 1977, the Council of Governments passed a resolution recommending reciprocal library card agreements between all member jurisdictions.

Pro Tips

  • Maryland Residents Get Extra Benefits: All Maryland residents are eligible for free library cards from the library systems of each of the state’s twenty-three counties and Baltimore City
  • Keep Cards Current: Most library cards expire every 3 years and must be renewed in person
  • Check Online First: Many systems now allow you to apply for a digital card online, then upgrade to full privileges when you visit in person

This system essentially gives you access to one of the largest library networks in the country, all for free! Whether you’re a voracious reader, researcher, or just want access to the latest bestsellers without the wait, collecting DC area library cards is definitely worth the effort.

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Should You Upgrade After Yesterday’s iPhone Launch?

Apple unveiled their latest lineup on September 9, 2025 — the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and a brand-new ultra-thin iPhone Air. Here’s what you need to know before deciding whether to upgrade.

1. How Old Is Your Current iPhone — and Will It Support iOS 26?

• Apple’s upcoming iOS 26 rolls out publicly on September 15, 2025, introducing the new Liquid Glass UI, smarter features, improved messages, Live Translation, and more.   

• Devices that will not be supported include the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. These models are from 2018 and will remain stuck on iOS 18, losing access to future updates and security fixes.   

• Currently supported iPhones (per Apple) include: iPhone 13 and newer, through to the new iPhone 17 series and iPhone Air.  

Recommendation:

If your iPhone is 7+ years old (e.g., XR/XS or earlier), consider upgrading for both security and compatibility. Stay on older iOS puts you at risk and can hinder access to newer apps or features.

2. Check Your Battery Health — When Should You Consider Upgrading?

Go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health. If your Maximum Capacity is below around 80%, you’re likely seeing:

• Noticeable battery drain

• Throttle-induced slowdown

• Degraded battery performance overall

In such cases, upgrading makes sense—or at least consider battery replacement if cost is the concern.

3. Are Photos a Priority?

• The iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max introduce a new telephoto lens and selfie front-facing camera: 48 MP sensor for telephoto and 18 MP sensor for selfie. Both of these should produce noticeably better photos.

• The telephoto lens is particularly valuable if you photograph kids in action or sports—giving you significantly better reach and detail.

• The selfie lens of course is great for those family and friends shots when you can’t find someone else to take the picture.

4. Do You Value Thinness (and Style)?

• The iPhone Air is a design statement: the thinnest iPhone ever at just 5.6 mm, using a lightweight titanium frame with Ceramic Shield 2 for extra durability.   

• It includes one reliable 48 MP rear camera (many users use only the main lens anyway), and pairs pro performance with cutting-edge portability—making it arguably the most fashionable iPhone to date.

5. Should You Wait Another Year?

• Apple is widely expected to release a foldable iPhone in 2026. This would open up like a book to give you much more screen space. If having the equivalent of a small iPad and iPhone together in one unit appeals to you, try to wait till next year.

Final Thoughts

Don’t upgrade just for the sake of hype. Consider your current device’s age, battery health, and how you use it day-to-day. The iPhone 17 line delivers meaningful improvements, especially in camera tech. If those align with your needs, now is a sensible time to upgrade. If you’re still holding a newer iPhone in good shape and don’t crave the latest cameras, waiting another year could be the right choice.

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GrandPerspective for Mac, WinDirStat for Windows – Visualizing Disk Usage

If you’ve ever wondered “Where did all my disk space go?”, a visual disk usage tool can answer that question in minutes.

On macOS, GrandPerspective has been a go-to for years. It scans your drive and displays a colorful treemap—each rectangle represents a file, sized by how much space it takes. Big blocks reveal large files instantly, whether it’s a forgotten video export or a massive cache folder.

On Windows, the closest match is WinDirStat. It works the same way: scan a drive, see a treemap, and drill down into directories. It also adds a handy file-type legend and a directory tree so you can clean up directly from the interface.

Both tools are free, open source, and lightweight. For moderately technical users, they’re faster and more insightful than manually poking through folders—and they make the “what’s eating my disk?” problem almost fun to solve.