February 19, 2009 by dave.

I’m new to the Ipod world; having finally succumbed to that urge to acquire a new piece of technology.  I’ve held off for quite a while because I couldn’t really justify the expense.  I finally lost my willpower about a month ago and started researching which model I should buy.

I initially focused on a Shuffle because, being frugal, I didn’t feel I needed to spend a lot on a device that held hundreds (or thousands) of songs.  As I started to price the Shuffle I realized that I could get a used model with a display for a little more money….so I changed my focus to a low end model with a display.  I was then tossed into the complex world of new and used Ipods on Ebay….and I had to decipher the various ‘generations‘ of each model along with capacities and styles.

I ran the numbers and finally decided on a mid-generational model (for those that are new to Ipods, when Apple releases an improved version of an existing model they increment it’s generation).  I settled on a 3rd generation Ipod Nano with a 4GB capacity….and I set myself a price limit and bought one on Ebay for about $70.  This is about half the price of a comparable new one.  Strangely enough it turned out to be the same exact one that my wife has….and I kinda messed up because she wanted one with a higher capacity so I really should have taken hers and got her an 8GB model…..oh well.

What does ‘Scott Sigler‘ have to do with my Ipod?…keep reading:  The final thing that pushed me to get an Ipod was the ability to have Podcasts at my disposal.  I had seen what was available (for free) when looking at my wife’s Itunes and I have always been a fan of NPR’s Car Talk so I am one of the few individuals that mainly listens to Podcasts on their Ipod.  If you have never listened to a Podcast you are missing out.  Grab a couple and try them out….

When I got my Ipod from the seller on Ebay I proceeded with configuring it and loading it with various Podcasts (I have since started ripping some select music onto it from my CD collection…so I’m expanding past Podcasts).  I discovered a number of Audiobooks (organized into episodes & chapters) were shown via Itunes that were…..well…FREE!

They were from an author named Scott Sigler.  Wow!  They are terrific….it seems the author is well known for Podcasting his books.  Strangely enough, in this case, free does equal very high quality!  The style of the books he produces are what I would call ‘action-based freakish science fiction’.  He’s a great author (though ‘twisted’ by his own admission) and I strongly suggest you investigate his work, either in hard-copy or via his Podcasts.  I finally got to check out his web site but haven’t yet dug into it too deep.  I feel like I need to send some money his way….to compensate for all his ‘free stuff’ (hey - the guy needs to be able to live) and once I have more time I’ll be looking into it via his site. Check out his stuff - he offers it from his web site or you can subscribe to it via the Itunes Podcast section….and if you like it send him some money or buy his books.

Posted in Fun!, Web Sites, Technology | 3 Comments »

February 13, 2009 by dave.

Several months ago my wife discovered that Ben & Jerry’s was producing a much smaller version of their ice cream ‘pints’.  She happened to be in a supermarket and saw them in the freezer section….so of course she had to buy some for the family to try out.  I am not sure what the exact size is but I believe they are about 1/4 cups and they are selling for anywhere between 99 cents and $1.19 depending on the location.

In terms of cost they are no real bargain; especially when comparing them to the original pint containers but they are ideal for a few reasons.  When I eat from a pint-sized container I know I eat much more than I should (have you ever read the nutritional information for a pint of this stuff?).  I can easily eat half of the pint….and on some occasions I’ve eaten more.  These 1/4 pints help you to control how much you eat while still satisfying your craving for the ice cream.

Another bonus with this product is they include their own little plastic spoon that is stored in the cover of the container (you can see the spoon in the picture on the left).  This helps when you want one and do not have a spoon available.

I’ve been looking for information on this product at the Ben & Jerry’s site but have had no luck. This surprises me.  I wonder if they are here to stay or just a special item they are trying out. regardless…it’s a great idea and I do hope they stay.

Posted in Food / Beverage | 3 Comments »