A hand vac that totally sucks

We've just recently moved into an old house with wood flooring, which is quite nice... except for all the dust bunnies and hair balls that magically assemble in corners all day. Sure, a carpet would be just as dirty, but at least it would hide the nasty stuff. The room I spend most of my day in also happens to be small and packed with furniture - two desks, a bed, two tables, and a large bookshelf - so there are lots of nooks and crannies to get clogged up with nastiness, and they're not easily accessible with standard vacuum cleaners. Enter the hand vac.

A good, small, handheld vacuum cleaner will make you clean more efficiently and more often, because it's so little trouble. Grab it from its charging base, hit the button, and watch the dirt disappear. It's instant gratification. Today I bought a new one after some research. Here's what I've learned.

Stay away from Black & Decker vacuums. I would extend that recommendation to all their small household appliances, though some would disagree. Stay way from Sunbeam and other totally cheapo brands. Go for something in the 10-15 V range if you expect to do any real cleaning. Look for brush and precision attachments. Here's what I came home with today:

Shark Cordless Hand Vac

This thing sucks. Literally. When I first used it, I thought it was going to warp the floor boards. It bucked and twisted in my hand like an energetic bronco stallion. It roared and purred and got its job done very, very quickly and effectively. I can't speak for its battery life or longevity as I've only had it for a day, but the thing definitely cleans.

Kashi GoLean Crunch! is the greatest cereal in the world

It's rare that I proclaim a single product THE best in its category. When I do it, I probably change my mind in a matter of days, so that kind of strong opinion doesn't count. But this one does; I've held it for a long time, and I'll bet money on it (if there is a market for bets on these things).

Kashi GoLean Crunch! is the greatest breakfast cereal in the world.

I know, I know. You're probably thinking one of two things: what the heck does that mean, "greatest", or, you're not talking about that hippie organic crap, are you? I am, but let's get to the first point first.

You may prefer a different kind of cereal, or you may like another brand for personal reasons, but I think that my evaluation of Crunch! (and it's the only product that deserves its exclamation point through and through) is as rational and reliable as that of a wine connoisseur who tells you that hey, no matter what you "prefer", White Zin is totally balls. I'm not going to pursue the analogy any further because I lack the expertise both as a wine reviewer and a cereal reviewer, so, in short, assume that I'm right and hear me out.

My ideal cereal should satisfy the following conditions (these were arrived at before Crunch! entered and subsequently rocked my world):

1. It should be crunchy, as in "not soggy." It should start out this way and get just juicy enough to eat, but never mushy or fall-aparty.
2. The flavor should be free or weird, overpowering, de-cerealizing tones such as bubblegum-like fruit and sweet chocolate.
3. It should have a varied texture, falling within and covering fully a strict range from medium-small to medium-large: no dusty powder on the bottom of the bag, no eerily uniform tiny pieces (I'm looking at you, Cheerios), no giant ones (sorry, Chex). It should feature twigs, squares, clusters, mega-clusters, and each spoonful should be perfect.
4. It should be sweetened, but not dessert-sweet. Grain-friendly flavors like honey and almond are welcome.
5. It should be packed with nutritional desirables (protein, fiber) and low on sugar, sodium, and fat.

There we go. Now, if after seeing (and devouring) Crunch! you go, heeeey, that list sounds like a post-hoc description of this Kashi stuff, well, what can I say. I can say, "no, that's always been my golden standard."

And as for the hippie factor, look, it's advertised as a health food. Duh, it's cereal. But it costs $2.50-$3.00 for a 15 oz box in most places. It doesn't claim to contain ginseng, witch hazel, dragon's breath, and it's not Level-five vegan. It doesn't even have a bearded prospector on the label. You can buy it, it's ok. Tell them I said so.