I’m sorry about the no-post yesterday, I was having internet access issues. At this point I can say that I no longer endorse Clearwire as a viable broadband solution, at least if you have other options. The lower prices are not worth increasing inconsistent connection and data transfer rates. Expect an update on that article later.
–Jeremy Hobbs
I kind of miss country music. Real country. Not “Fat Rascals” country, or who ever that chick from Idol is. And not Lady Antebellum.
I’m in the minority there, as they sold a whole bunch of albums last week, but I’ve ran this album through the iPod a few times, and can’t figure out why. This album has been released about 17 times this year already; just with different names. It’s bad pop music, with zero soul, and a big black hole where ‘heart’ used to be.
So long as the record industry continues to release discs like this at $14 a pop, I refuse to have any sympathy for them in the piracy debate. In fact, this disc isn’t worth pirating; it’s a waste of bandwidth and hard disk space.
This may be your thing, I can’t see why but the numbers don’t lie. But I cannot recommend it. Should you decide to grab it, it has 11 tracks, the best of which is ‘just okay’ and the rest hang around ‘gag.’ I just cannot say enough bad things about this; which means I need to stop writing.
–Jeremy Hobbs
Are you an internet junkie like me? Do you start having withdrawal symptoms if you have to go more than a few hours without being able to at least check your email? Like me, are you too cheap to buy a decent data plan for your phone, so you can accomplish this task quickly and easily? Are you looking for a simple service that allows you to stay connected for just pennies a day, or less? Well, I found it for you. Welcome to Flurry!
Funny story. I upgraded my phone around a year and a half ago (Walkman w600i, don’t buy it), and I proceeded to play around with it, like I do all my new gadgets. Just one of my favorite past times. Anyways, I came across the preloaded Yahoo! Mail application, and thought I’d give it a quick try. Anyone that knows me well knows I’m not completely ignorant (if you think I’m ignorant, what does that make you, you’re reading my blog?); I knew that there was going to be some data charges. But in my mind I thought ‘Hey, it’s just text files, it can’t possibly cost that much!’ By about the second time I checked my messages wirelessly, I had became addicted quicker than a crack head and started doing it all the time. Long story short, my Cingular (now the new ATT!) bill was damn near close to triple what I was used to, and that Yahoo! Mail appication got deleted so fast I made lightning look slow.
That did not cure my addiction though, so I started searching. ‘There has to be a better way,’ I thought. And of course there was. What I found was Flurry, an amazing little java application for java enabled cell phones. So easy to set up, all you have to do is register for an account, and they’ll text message you the installer in an attachment. You can also transfer it yourself if your phone can connect with your PC, and that is of course much cheaper (free) if you have no data plan.
As a warning, upon setting up your account, your eyebrows will be raised. They ask you for your email address(es) that you wish to keep tabs on, and the passwords to those precious accounts. Now here’s how desperate I was; despite my long standing policy of never giving anyone my password, and my anality when it comes to security, I simply caved like a house of cards and handed over my information just as quickly as I could type it.
They seem to have been true to their word though, since that time (a year or so ago) I have not once noticed anything fishy going on within my accounts. They say your passwords are encrypted, and even they cannot read them. I somewhat doubt the last part, but even if they can, they have not opened my stuff so far as I can tell.
Flurry works by their servers opening, copying, and compressing your emails (only text, no html). That compression part is the big secret, it cuts way down on the amount of raw data that has to be transfered to your phone. By ‘way down,’ I mean that $50 data charge turned into a mere 75 CENTS! I’ve been able to read a whole day’s worth of email for around $0.02, at $0.01 per kilobyte on my ‘pay per use’ plan. Those numbers just speak for themselves, so there is nothing else I need to say about that.
The software itself is very simple to use, and should work on just about every phone still in operation. Flurry is able to check mail from nearly all of the big email services, and works with all the major cell phone operators. Other options they provide are things like texting you when you have a new message, but I just prefer to check manually. Those text thingies cost money, too (just ask Jill and her bff)! There are other toys to play around with like RSS feeds (hey, you can read this on your phone! Subscribe now!), and more. You’ll have to check them all out and get back to me, because I’m happy sticking with the basics for now. Oh, yeah, Flurry is ad-free freeware; the only money you’ll be paying is to your cell service provider. Now where’s my phone?
UPDATE: Flurry has updated it’s software, and it now has a much ’slicker’ and more attractive interface. Lot’s of other ‘goodies’ that I haven’t played around with yet, as well. Still provides the same excellent compression service, costing me next to nothing to check my mail. I still recommend this amazing service!
–Jeremy Hobbs
I’m sure a few of you noticed that I took a couple of days off. One day I was sick, and the other was spent putting together a ‘companion’ website to The Consumer’s Corner.
LowCalCorner is a site, that for right now and the immediate future, will focus on low calorie beverages. A lot of it will just be reused content from here, organized in a place where dieters can find it easily. There will be some ‘exclusive’ content as well, so if that interests you, check it out!
Should it take off, I’ll start putting some low/no cal foods and snacks up, but for the moment I want to stick with my passion. The Consumer’s Corner will not suffer at all, as LowCalCorner.com wont be updated all that often; just when something pretty big launches, or I find something particularly special (be it good or bad).
Check it out, link to it, let me know what you think! Have a nice evening!
Jeremy Hobbs
Jolt Orange Blast is a play on your everyday orange soda, and it pulls the flavor off quite well. Not overly sweet like a lot of beverages in that category, but not too tangy either. It knocked off Rip It’s Citrus X as my favorite orange flavored energy drink, easily.
There’s a touch of bitterness from the caffeine and other energy enhancing chemicals. Not enough to hurt the drink all that badly, but it is noticeable. That’s the only blight in the area of flavor, and it’s not all that bad.
I did sit down and drink the whole can at once, and I was most certainly charged up when I was finished. I believe there are something like 300 mgs of caffeine per can, and 3,000 mg of taurine. That will have you chasing your tail if you are not careful. Those are not official numbers though, so don’t hold them against me one way or the other. The can is 316 calories though, which isn’t horrible for 23+ ounces. Could definitely be worse.
‘Blue Raspberry‘ is still my favorite Jolt Energy Drink, but ‘Orange Blast’ is a solid number two. I feel safe recommending it, assuming of course that you enjoy orange sodas. Enjoy!
–Jeremy Hobbs
Just letting everyone running Windows Vista that the very first Service Pack has been released today, so you need to go check that out if you’ve turned off your automatic updates. Just open Internet Explorer, click on ‘Tools,’ and then ‘Windows Update.’ Keep your systems up to date, prevention if far easier than repairing!
Sorry about the no-posts this weekend, I’m reading a series of books I plan on reviewing. I’ll get something out to you tomorrow though, scouts honor. 
I don’t delve into the ‘high end’ products on the market very often, ‘affordable’ is my little niche in the blogging world, but in the next couple weeks you’re going to see some amazing deals on HD-DVD players. DO NOT BUY THEM. They have lost the high definition format war to Blu-Ray, and the HD-DVD format will no longer be supported. Retailers are going to be liquidating their HD-DVD supplies, sticking fine consumers with obsolete goods. Just thought I’d let you know.
–Jeremy Hobbs
I received a bit of recognition from Kim at Lakerees. I’d like to thank her; it’s always nice to feel important.
Part seven, best for last. I’m keeping this one a bit short, because we should all be getting ready for our big parties by now. Is this George Dickel whiskey guilt free? Well… in moderation ;-) This mixes baby butt smooth with the Coke Zero I recommended earlier, especial if you mix it on the ‘conservative’ side.
Why this over a Jack Daniels, or Crown Royal? It’s cheaper and tastes better. It’s that simple. If the name is new to you, and you’re a whiskey fan, I strongly encourage you to try it.
And for something to kick up the limeade? Take your pick of a favorite tequila, or a citrus vodka. I haven’t consumed enough varieties or either to give you a real solid recommendation, but I imagine it will be hard to go wrong unless you buy the bottom shelf stuff. Alcohol is the one thing you shouldn’t ever try to go cheap on; you’ll regret it in the morning.
Good luck tonight! Go Giatriots!!!
–Jeremy Hobbs
