Sony Reader Touch Edition 600

Last night I purchased the Sony ebook reader touch edition.  It was quite a bit of money, but I’ve been wanting an ebook reader for a while, and really want to support those that come out with note taking abilities.  Alas the cost was $300 + tax.  Is it worth $300?  Not really.  But as I said, I want to support e-ink + note taking abilities.

The past few months I’ve been craving fiction to read.  I haven’t wanted to buy a fiction book though, due to not only the cost of the initial purchase of a book, but also because for $8-12, I’m already done with the book within a few hours.  And then either I take the book to the used bookstore (possibly gain back $2-3), the library, or let it collect dust and use up space in my home.

I probably shoulda just gone to the library, I know.  But even there it takes a while to sort through the books for something that looks interesting (have to go through each book one by one, ugh).  And then the mental energy used to track where the book is so I don’t lose it, and when it’s due so it’s not overdue.  Add to that my disliking to drive much compounded with only being able to be on my feet for a little time before my back starts hurting, which forces me to keep my trips into town short and simple, one trip one purpose.  Well, needless to say, none of that is all that appealing to me.  The library may have free books, but the non-monetary costs are a bit high for me nowadays.  :(

I suppose, also, that I could read books on my computer.  Need I mention how annoying THAT is??  I really don’t like computers that much, and then there’s the weight, and size, and resulting discomforts.  Movies on the computer is one thing, but reading a book?  No.

For a similar cost I could have gotten a netbook.  That would be smaller and allow me to read ebooks and take notes too, right?  Yes, except that the netbook tablets for under $350 aren’t quite out yet.  Soon, very soon, I hope.

There ARE some items that I found really interesting, though which aren’t available yet.  Asus Tablet eee, which may or may not be available by christmas.  This is an item I’d like to buy for my daughter.

There’s also the concept product known as the Microsoft Courier.  OMGosh, now THAT I’d LOVE to have!!  A folding two screen “notebook”.  I’m not talking pc notebook.  I’m talking an electronic form of a spiral bound notebook.  That also has internet access abilities and such.  I’ve seen videos of them being used like moleskin notebooks…but even better in that you can have multiple moleskin books in ONE product.  Sorta like having a product devoted to OneNote type abilities.  This is my dream product.

I keep imagining how nice it would be to be able to take notes like with a pen and pad of paper; be able to edit and move those notes in similar method; create maps for helping me think clearer; hyperlink between maps, notes, and ideas; all while having the same feel of pen & paper as well as in a thin, lightweight item.

I’m not interested in using it for playing music, that’s what an mp3 player is for.  I don’t want to use it as a phone with monthly billings.  I don’t want to use it for watching videos, nor for playing games.  I want a simple, lightweight, easy to carry with me, won’t take up much space, “notebook” dedicated product.

I really don’t see why such items don’t exist yet.  If we’re looking at the idea of being able to carry multiple books and textbooks on a single lightweight item, why not look at the idea of being able to also carry multiple notebooks for multiple subjects/projects in a single lightweight item.

And yes, I do have a tablet convertible pc.  I’d love to use it as a tablet.  But the weight, the heat, flexibility of movement, and neck angle are all off for doing much with it.

This Sony Reader won’t get me anywhere near to the “notebook” that I want.  But purchasing it was similar to putting in my vote for what kind of product I’d like more R&D on.

These are the items I’m keeping my eyes on:

• http://gizmodo.com/5365299/courier-first-details-of-microsofts-secret-tablet
• http://gizmodo.com/5354359/asus-eee-reader-could-have-dual-color-touchscreens
• http://www.asustablet.com/
• http://www.plasticlogic.com/
• http://www.irextechnologies.com/irexdr1000

This Blog Rocks

I don’t understand these style comments.  Sarcasm I understand.  That’s usually how I read these kinds of comments.  I mean, face it, this is a boring-ass blog.  I don’t do it with the intent to gather more readers.  It’s merely a place where family and interested friends can glance through to see what kinds of things I’m doing during the time they check in on me.  About the only meaningful stuff I’ve put on here deals with the natural vision notes, which I created a special section for.

So why do multi-sentence paragraphs sometimes appear in my spam filter, writing about how there’s “substance” to this blog, unlike other blogs?  What do these people get out of writing these things?  I’m assuming it’s some kind of spam happening, but what’s the return?  If I click their links, I’m usually taken to something that has nothing to do with the topic of the post the comment was on.  And most of those sites seem like they get nothing out of even visitors popping on, though I could be wrong.

So far, only one have I understood.  In the post I mentioned M–L–M and the comment was by a site that seems to scan for certain words and then posts links to those blogs.  (These are actually funny, because the blog could be very negative about the tagword as a topic, yet it’s still added.)

The others?  Honestly, if they show up in my spam folder, there’s a good chance I’ll read it, check for a site, but then leave it in the folder until I’ve forgotten I’m supposed to make a decision to keep it or not..and into the trash it goes.

Admittedly, a small part of me wishes the comments had substance to them.  Perhaps if the post it was on had substance of its own then I might be more willingly to fall for the compliment.  If that were to ever happen, however, I’d still likely be just as skeptical of its meaningfulness as I am now.  Hah.

inkblog testing 2

inkblog testing 1

Syque you out in the end…

Today I found an awesome site, I am sooo happy.  I’ve spent years trying to find information on how we process information and what motivates us, etc.  Most of the stuff I buy or come across is full of needless words and needless ideas, and I don’t know how to go through them to pull out the gems.  And I could buy a book that offers maybe 1-3 gems, but spend up to $30 for it, the rest of it is fluff or sales crap.  And then trying to organize my notes?? roflmao!!!

Of course, can’t get rid of the books because what if I lose my notes.  So my house is filled with books, and pdfs, and stacks and stacks of notes.  And here is the basis of all that, already put together for me.  Nice!!!

The site address that goes into what motivates us and how we process information is:  http://changingminds.org/explanations/explanations.htm

But wait, there’s more.  The mother site is:  http://syque.com/index.htm Here you will find links to the previous address, plus two more child sites.  One which goes into creativity and problem solving, and the other for tools for improvement and quality.

All this is FREE!!

So many !!!! eh?  :D

I am going through the first link, little by little, in bite-sized chunks.  My plan is to put the info into a brain map of some kind before I’ll allow myself to move to another chunk.

Gah, today was so nice, being able to just work on the first stuff without feeling rushed nor feeling the urge to try to go through a bunch of sites and reviews trying to find what I was looking for…without having anything more than a “I’ll know it when I see it” criteria.  AND, I was able to finish a thought and set the work aside for talking with my daughter.  (I am using sticky notes and rearranging them to find the hidden map, lol.)  I think today was easy for me to do that because I know that the info isn’t going anywhere, and that it’s all quality info and not something I have to rushedly scan through for a gem or two before moving on to another rushed scan.

Anyhoot, I’m off to continue on the map I was working on earlier today.

Oh, and the best part?  This site puts Socionics to shame, hahahahaah.

3 Bullies and Me

The Bullies are here.  They actually arrived earlier this week, I just haven’t gotten around to writing about them.

I really like the Steel Bow.  It’s a good size for starting out and when weak.  I have the level 1 spring in it, lucky to do 15 or 20, lol.  Well, I’m not doing full force/pull.  I can feel arm and back muscles that I haven’t felt in a long time.  The only problem with the Steel Bow is that the leg exercise doesn’t seem right for it.  I fear putting my foot on the handle because I don’t want to break the handle (some person on a video warned about the feet breaking the handles).  So I can’t get the right angle.  I had thought that the handles move.  Maybe they do, but again, I fear breaking them.  Maybe I’ll write and ask about it.

I also have both the Bullworker classic and the BullyXtreme.  I must admit that I like the classic’s shiny steel with numbers etched into over the cardstock number strip glued? on the xtreme.  I also like the handles on the classic, which the xtreme doesn’t have.  Overall, if given the choice, I’d take the Bullworker Classic over the BullyXtreme . . . except for maybe the price.  The Xtreme is $20 or so cheaper.  One of them ought to go back . . . but which one?

Measurements 9-19-09

The two main guidelines that I am aiming for are

• Waist-to-Height Ratio < 50%
• Body Fat < 30%

To achieve the above in 61 weeks, my mini goals are

• waist = -.25″/week
• trend weight = -1 lb/week
• leading to whtr = -.4%/week
• leading to bf = -.315%/week

I’m not aiming for perfect calculations of body fat.  The above will do just fine for the 61 week project.

One of the measurements that I need to see how well I am heading towards the two goals are waist measurement (though I’m actually using belly button area measurement, so yeah, I know it’ll be off, but if I’m consistent where I measure, then I’ll see the numbers changing.  Also, the belly button area is definitely bigger than my waist.)

The other measurement is trend weight.  I am using the Hacker’s Diet Online tool http://www.fourmilab.ch/hackdiet/online/hdo.html to calculate my trend weight.  This asks me to weigh myself every day, but instead of focusing on day to day number jumps, it does a moving average to show a trend of going up or down.  If my weight is over the trend line, it is called a floater, and brings the average up.  If my weight is under the trend line, it is called a sinker, and brings the average down.  The daily goal is to make sure that the next day’s weight is a sinker.  The greater the difference between the sinker and the trend, the greater the sinker pulls the trend weight down.  So for example, the trend weight and day’s weight on 9-13-09 were both 204.4.  But today the day’s weight was 202.8, but the trend weight is 203.8.  The daily weight can bounce up and down, but as long as it’s under the trend weight, it will bring that trend weight down.  This helps to reduce the ups and downs felt when weighing one’s self because you’re not paying attention to the daily ups and downs that naturally occur.

With the two measurements of “waist” and trend weight, I put them into this calculator http://home.fuse.net/clymer/bmi/ .  As long as I am consistent on where I take the measurements and which calculator I use, then I will hopefully see consistent changes.  Also, my goals are based on the use of these two tools.  If I switch tools, I will have to alter my goals.  And for now, I’m pretty happy with where these tools will guide me.  Upon reaching the final goal, then I might choose to look for something more accurate…or not.  Depends on how much further work I want to do on my body composition at that time.

Ok, so, on to the measurements.

Sun 9-13-09     waist 46.75″; WHtR 73.6%; trendwt 204.4; BF 49.2%

Sat 9-19-09      waist 46.5″  ; WHtR 73.2%; trendwt 203.8; BF 49.1%

So this week I met the waist and WHtR part.  But the weight only went down .6 lb.  It is, however, still a sinker, so I’m not too bothered.  Plus, the BF% went down.  Had I lost the full pound, then the BF% wouldn’t have changed.

Now yes, if I really delved into the numbers then I would see different things than the general overview offers me.  But I’m not interested in that much delving and overall and quite satisfied with today’s measurements.

I do admit to being a bit ‘concerned’ in that I’ve ordered a Myotape for improving the waist measuring process.  It’ll quite likely increase the waist measurements initially, but will provide a more consistent measurement process each time.

My family’s measurements:

• Richard:  sun 9-19-09;  waist = 49″;  weight = 272.8 lbs;
• Manta:  sun 9-19-09;  waist = 40.5″;  weight = 176.0 lbs

I am not tracking trend weight with them.  I plan only to measure them once a week, when I do my own review and update.  For the family, I look only for sinkers (a reduction in numbers), and to keep an eye out for if they are losing fat or lbm.

Too late to cancel the order

It’s 11:20 am my time and I got tired of waiting for a phone call and called the bow site back (they weren’t in at 9:30am my time).  I was transferred to a woman, she was polite.  I asked if it was too late to cancel part of my order, she checked my order and told me that it had gone out on wednesday.  She then told me that if I decided that I didn’t want it, to send it back to them with a note inside requesting a refund.

Ah well.

Bully Shipment and Reconsiderations

Ya know, for all those negative reviews they got regarding delivery, I’m just not seeing it in my own experience.  Today I got an email from fedex with the tracking number.  Clicked that to the fedex site and the package has been picked up already and is in their hands.  I’d say that that was pretty darned quick and as promised.

When the item comes in, I just might have to go to amazon and describe my own good experience regarding delivery.

*sigh*  but I still got one more week to wait before it actually arrives and I can use it.  :`(

On a different note, while I was in town today paying off my credit card, I was attacked by that buyer’s remorse bug.  I’m surprised it took so long, I held out as long as I good, hoping it would bite me before making the purchases.  But no such luck.

As soon as I got home I called the bow place and left a message with them that I was requesting to cancel half of my order.  I still want the Steel Bow (the short one), but I want to cancel the Classic one.  No reason to have 2 full sized ones.  The lady I left the message with said that she doubted my order had been sent out yet and that she’d leave my message with another lady who handles that stuff (it was after hours for them).  I’ll feel much better about my purchases if I can get that one off the list.

Hopefully this will leave me with just two bullies, the steel bow and the extreme.

Bully Groups

This is a kind of continuation from the previous post.

The xtreme site claims to have a forum.  But the address given for the forum is basically another sales pitch site and not anything like the forum picture that is given.  Perhaps the forum is in there somewhere I haven’t found yet.  Of course, I wasn’t given an actual link, but in a video it was orally given and on one page amidst lots of other stuff it was lengthily spelled out.  (no actual click it and be linked to it)  Both take you to that sales pitch site I mentioned.

Both claim to have a yahoo group devoted to their products, and I’ve joind both of them.  It’s an approval process, but I didn’t have to wait long for either of them.

Neither are really all that active.

The extreme group appears to be mostly “articles” (aka sales pitches) by the xtreme owner.  Mostly promoting isometrics, the bullyextreme, and the “extras” he gives when u purchase a bully from him.  Placed on this group, it’s sorta like preaching to the choir.  But I’ve seen these articles placed elsewhere as advertisements or “reviews” of the different bullies on the market.

I have to say, this extreme guy really puts himself OUT there.  Unfortunately, it appears that he may also use different names and forgetting which name serves which purpose and where, as I’ve seen these names contradict themselves and how they are or aren’t related to the company.  For example, on amazon, a name gave a good review and chewed out someone who gave it a bad review and then claimed to not have anything to do with the company itself.  Yet elsewhere on amazon was able to quote a date of shipping and reception of a bully to someone else who’d given a negative review on customer service.  For someone who claims to not be a part of the company, how’d he know what the name, address, date of order, date of shipping, and date of reception were?

Another thing I found humorous about the extreme guy is that the owner’s nickname or email…whatever that thing is that is under his “real name”… is “emelem8″.  MLM.  Multi-level marketing?  Yes, I can see how he, or whoever it is that is doing the games, has an MLM attitude and style of actions.  It’s kind of gross to see, imo.  But then, who knows, maybe it actually works even if it turns other people off.  Lol, take me for instance, I ordered one from him despite all that.  But $50 didn’t seem like a big deal at the time of ordering.

The bow group isn’t as…extreme…as the other guy.  They seem a little more low key.  The group is a little more relaxed, definitely more active.  And its subject to the same issues that most groups face, particularly when various people have different needs, different methods, and different intentions for the product and/or the group site.  Basically, there’s apparently been some in-fighting, and possibly some lines drawn between differing sides and their supporters.  But this is to be expected.  This one also had more females that had been members at one time or another.

I seriously doubt that I will spend any more time than checking in every once a couple of months or so (when I remember that they exist) as there likely won’t be much of anything posted, and likely nothing I’d find of interest.  But if given the choice of one or the other, I’d choose the bullworker’s group over the bullyextreme’s group.  At least you have a better chance of having questions answered in the former, and less preaching to the choir than the latter.

Where both of them seem to fall short of is their marketing to women.  Yes, they both SAY that women use it too.  But the xtreme doesn’t actually have women actually using it, just random pics of female fitness models.  And not that many either (can’t distract from the muscle porn I guess).

The bow site does have a primary female fitness model holding and using the bully, and they are said to have a chart designed for females.  (BTW, they also claim to have a chart for at home fitness…a nice way of saying for people like me, lol.)

But for both places, it seems that women are sort of an after thought.

Hmm, but then again, the bow site does offer a smaller version of the bully, which I think is really what would appeal to women more, or at least females “like me” who want to gain lbm and lose fat.  With this item, I think this company has a better chance of increasing their market.  I just wish there was something…more.  What I don’t know, I just feel as if something is lacking.

Both sites would be improved if they offered more before and after pics of common ordinary people who mostly or exclusively used the bully.  As well as pics of people who use it for different intentions/purposes.  Basically, something more common and user oriented than a bunch of fitness models.

And now, I’ll have to wait to see just how much of an investment or waste my money was.  And then later how much, if any, improvements I can get from using the bullies in the fitness part of my fat loss goals this 61 weeks.