Monthly Archives: November 2007

Skype update

Posted on November 24, 2007 | Leave a comment

So I’ve always liked Skype it’s a great backup for my phone and it’s great for calling home when I’m on vacation. At 2.1 cents per minute, it’s hard to beat the price as long as you’ve got a semi-decent internet connection. Not that I talk a lot when I travel but I always feel like I’m being initiated when trying to figure out long distance calling when in a foreign country. They 2.1 cents is just for calls to the US, other countries have different rates.

Skype - call the world at rock bottom pricesThe goofy* thing is that it’s 2.1 cents to call the US wherever I am, from next door, Egypt or Costa Rica it’s all 2.1 cents! But with the same reasoning it’s 6.4 cents to call Costa Rica, that’s if I’m here in Michigan or down there. Of course if I’m calling someone else’s Skype computer it’s free from anywhere to anywhere.

I just upgraded to the new Mac version, I was 1.1 versions behind. I think the call quality is significantly better and I noticed the touch tones work better, so now I can call my (misplaced) cell phone and listen to my messages. Continue reading →

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Girls Rock Radio!

Posted on November 24, 2007 | Leave a comment

So I found a fun Internet radio station, it’s called “Girls Rock Radio. It’s all girl bands, stuff I haven’t heard in a while and some I’ve never ever heard of, but as fussy as I am, I do listen through it.

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Although since it’s stream I really can’t change the channel now, can I? You can see on the Girls Rock Radio web site what’s playing. Some players (like iTunes) will show you what track is playing.

No advertisements, but they do request donations (which I think are few and far in-between). I’m surprised they don’t run some 30 second ads, I would think would generate some revenue (maybe if it’s ad supported they pay different rates to play the songs, I know that’s goofy these days).

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“Someone is at my Table!”

Posted on November 23, 2007 | Leave a comment

So I’m at my Einstein’s bagel and someone is at the table a always sit at. It’s the only high-top table in the place and it’s by the window but next to a wall so that I get shade for my laptop. When they asked at the counter “what would you like?”, I said “I’d like my table”. The one person didn’t know what I was talking about, but the other one said “I noticed that when you came in…”

I guess I’m just a create of habit.

Update: The guy just left, I’m trying to decide if I’m obsessive compulsive enough to move. “It’s nice and sunny right there”, he thinks as he tries to rationalize it….

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Posted in food + drink, me + myself + i

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HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Posted on November 22, 2007 | 2 comments

Drive Safe! Eat Lots! And don’t forget to Be Thankful!

I know life can get crappy at times, but be thankful for the little things. I know if you’re reading this you’ve got access to a computer with Internet access, so that’s soemthing :)

I know even when I get down about the things I don’t have (which are not material things), I know I have family, friends, a home, a car that runs and a job (even if it is making me insane right now). I do have a million other things (mostly things I probably don’t need), but those material things really aren’t what matters at the end of the day.

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Posted in friends + family, holidays + events

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Listen to Courtney Robb

Posted on November 22, 2007 | Leave a comment

CourtneyrobbMy awesome musically talented niece, Courtney Robb, is on the charts at Fox Space Live. Just go to the Fox Space Live page and use your browser to search for “Courtney Robb” and click to listen, that’s it! The more you listen, the higher she gets and the more exposure she gets, I’m assuming at some point they pick the music to play on the station…

If you want to listen first check out the Courtney Robb MySpace page for some other songs and Detroit-area dates. She’s plays her own songs that are along the lines of Michelle Branch, Anna Nalick, Jewel, Tegan and Sara, Colbie Caillat, Avril Lavigne, KT Tunstall, etc.

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My $100 Laptop (actually it’s up to $200 now)

Posted on November 21, 2007 | 4 comments

200LaptopSo I caved and ordered my $200 laptop, actually I had to order two . The only way to get one is to donate one, so you actually get one for yourself and a tax deductible laptop that is donated to a developing nation (total = $400). The Get 1 Give 1 (G1G1) program only lasts 5 more days (ends November 26) so order now.

As a “Give One Get One” donor, you will receive one of the first XO laptops to be distributed in North America. Laptops will be delivered on a first come, first served basis.

OnelaptopperchildIn addition, T-Mobile gives you one-year complimentary access to T-Mobile HotSpots (I think you can use any laptop there, not just the XO). So that’s an extra bonus too. The tax write off for part of it and a year of free hotspots (granted I wouldn’t have purchased it, but I will use it) give even more value to it. And I’ll probably spend a little more time at Starbucks and Borders now.

Here’s some more details from when I had mentioned this $100 laptop before and some reviews on the laptop and the program. I’m not sure why they’re limiting the window for when you can buy it or why it’s limited to the US and Canada. I just wish I had it for my next trip to Costa Rica….

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Digital/Photo PostCards

Posted on November 18, 2007 | Leave a comment

Has anyone used of any photo sites (like SnapFish, etc.) where I can upload a photo and I can type in some text and address and it’ll mail it to someone as a post card? Just to clarify, they will mail the photo as a single paper postcard (with my text on the back) and it’ll be delivered to their physical mailbox by their mail carrier.

It looks like SnapFish will do it for 99 cents, I’ve never used them. Has anyone tried this? Found anyone they like better?

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Posted in general

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Exchange Rates in Costa Rica

Posted on November 17, 2007 | 1 comment

Colon-Trend-TenyearSo the exchange rates are pretty good for people from the US traveling to Costa Rica these days. You can see from the graph it’s been going up ever since my first trip in 1999, prices have gone up there too, especially costs for tourist type things, but it’s still been a decent value. Especially when you compare it to Britain or Canadian exchange rates, where the dollar has considerably dropped in value lately. It hasn’t really changed much since my last trip but it should be pretty good for my next one, it’s about 520 to $1.00 today.

Current Rates
$1.00 (US) = CRC
1000 CRC = $ USD
Currency data courtesy coinmill.com

More info on The exchange rate, some from Wikipedia (currency photos) and from Vacation City (currency photos).

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Posted in Costa Rica 2007

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