Almost everyone i know has heard at least parts of my rant on why ipods are a rip-off. For anyone who hasn't. I can give you the skinny.
1) iPods are programed with planned obsolesce. The battery lives are created to last until just after the warranty runs out.
2) When your battery is useless you can buy a new battery, but they are expensive. You may as well buy that newer iPod that just came out. How convenient.
3) When you buy your new iPod you will need new accessories also because the new one is a conveniently obscure and different size.
4) Repeat 1-3 indefinitely.
There is an amazing device called a Zune. It's made by Microsoft. I have one and i have had it for years. The reasons why it rocks:
1) The battery is still as good as new.
2) I get free upgrades for the software online. A new feature comes out, I get it for free.
3) I have never had to buy new accessories because i didn't need a new zune in the first place.
4) Zune software works great and has cool features for finding things you are interested in. There are tons of free songs, podcasts and suggestions available.
Reliable, functional, not a major rip-off. I love my Zune dearly. The Zune software tends to be slow for me sometimes but overall it works great and that might just be my computer. I have no idea. I'm not very technologically savvy.
All i know is that iPods are clearly a rip-off and I'm perfectly happy with my Zune.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
My Shoe Loyalties
My shoe loyalties have ended with converse.
In 2003 converses were bought out by Nike. Since then the quality of their product has almost completely diminished. I have a pair of converses that i got in 2004, right after the switch. They have given me no problems what so ever. They are still comfy and functional. I also have a pair that i got a few years ago that have holes in them so i cannot wear them when it's raining because the water comes through the bottom. The insides of the shoes at the back are torn up and it makes them really unwearable because parts rub on my heels. The fabric is ripping off of the rubber. Over time i have seen the quality of these shoes get worse and worse. I don't know if it's the same for all styles but i have many high-tops that tell the same story.
Since i no longer have loyalties to converse (aka Nike). I started looking for new shoes for school. I found vegan, eco-friendly shoes at http://www.simpleshoes.com/ I am getting Women's, CARat - hemp shoes in mulled grape. This is the product description.
The Women’s CARat is a vegan hemp sneaker. Hemp grows really fast without the use of pesticides, and when it’s woven into fabric, it’s soft, durable, and breathable
Vegan shoe! No animal byproducts or even regular animal products
Certified organic cotton laces
Certified organic cotton lining
That stripe down the side of the shoe is made of recycled inner tubes we saved from a dump
The “pedbed” (the cushiony and supportive stuff at the bottom of the shoe) is made of super soft and squishy polyurethane and recycled car tire
Partially recycled shoe – the bottom of this shoe is made from a recycled car tire
The foot form inserts are made of post consumer recycled paper
Even our boxes are environmentally friendly – made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue
I love it. I have ordered them already. Hopefully they will last and i will have a new shoe loyalty.
In 2003 converses were bought out by Nike. Since then the quality of their product has almost completely diminished. I have a pair of converses that i got in 2004, right after the switch. They have given me no problems what so ever. They are still comfy and functional. I also have a pair that i got a few years ago that have holes in them so i cannot wear them when it's raining because the water comes through the bottom. The insides of the shoes at the back are torn up and it makes them really unwearable because parts rub on my heels. The fabric is ripping off of the rubber. Over time i have seen the quality of these shoes get worse and worse. I don't know if it's the same for all styles but i have many high-tops that tell the same story.
Since i no longer have loyalties to converse (aka Nike). I started looking for new shoes for school. I found vegan, eco-friendly shoes at http://www.simpleshoes.com/ I am getting Women's, CARat - hemp shoes in mulled grape. This is the product description.
The Women’s CARat is a vegan hemp sneaker. Hemp grows really fast without the use of pesticides, and when it’s woven into fabric, it’s soft, durable, and breathable
Vegan shoe! No animal byproducts or even regular animal products
Certified organic cotton laces
Certified organic cotton lining
That stripe down the side of the shoe is made of recycled inner tubes we saved from a dump
The “pedbed” (the cushiony and supportive stuff at the bottom of the shoe) is made of super soft and squishy polyurethane and recycled car tire
Partially recycled shoe – the bottom of this shoe is made from a recycled car tire
The foot form inserts are made of post consumer recycled paper
Even our boxes are environmentally friendly – made of post-consumer recycled paper, soy based printing ink, natural latex and starch based glue
I love it. I have ordered them already. Hopefully they will last and i will have a new shoe loyalty.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Blogging and Gay Rights Controversies
I have officially begun a blog. There are multiple reasons for my doing so.
1) I want to share opinions because it's something i enjoy. I love to hear how others feel and i love facts to be presented to me from many sources.
2) I feel like everyone has one and i want to see what I'm missing.
3) A reason I'm starting this blog is because Ginny Maziarka has one and this is a way I'm going to combat her blog. I want to express my opposing view points for the world to see instead of in rants that few hear.
After reading portions of this controversial blog i wanted to get in on this also. I have been at Ginny Maziarkas meeting about the West Bend library, protests against changes being made to the library, and the library meetings as well. I spoke at many of these events. This issue seems as if it should be closed but apparently is not. Also the harassment policies and other controversies trouble me deeply.
I am for equality and gay rights. I think that if you are black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Gay, Straight, Bisexual, Transgender, short, tall, fat, skinny, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Christian etc. you should have the same rights as anyone else. I thought that this was agreed upon by all but sadly i have learned that it is not. If a black teenager was being harassed in school because he or she is black then there would be outrage. If a christian teenager was being harassed in school because he or she was christian then there would be outrage. Where is the outrage? LGBT students are being harassed. This needs to be addressed. There happens to be a group that supports them and their rights. How is that a bad thing? What is there about that that is negative? Women worked for their rights, African Americans worked for their rights and now it's time for the people of alternative sexual orientations to have their rights. And they and their allies are fighting. I feel that they should be supported by their communities.
Harassment policies should be all encompassing. That is all there is to it. Hatred should never be tolerated in schools. Never. There is no question. If a certain group being harassed and needs help they should receive it.
The argument always comes up that "our tax dollars are paying for this?"
Yes. Tax dollars go to all. The public and just because you do not personally have a need for something does not mean the public does not have a need for it. I give an example: I pay taxes, my family pays taxes. I do not need to go to an LGBT support group I do not need a football team at my high school. I do not need the library to carry books on knitting. I do not need the library to carry children's books. But someone needs those things. The public needs those things. I pay taxes towards them but i get OTHER things from my tax dollars. I get a debate team, i get usable roads, i get Kurt Vonnegut novels. I am sick of hearing this argument.
I am sure i will have more to say in the future. please comment.
1) I want to share opinions because it's something i enjoy. I love to hear how others feel and i love facts to be presented to me from many sources.
2) I feel like everyone has one and i want to see what I'm missing.
3) A reason I'm starting this blog is because Ginny Maziarka has one and this is a way I'm going to combat her blog. I want to express my opposing view points for the world to see instead of in rants that few hear.
After reading portions of this controversial blog i wanted to get in on this also. I have been at Ginny Maziarkas meeting about the West Bend library, protests against changes being made to the library, and the library meetings as well. I spoke at many of these events. This issue seems as if it should be closed but apparently is not. Also the harassment policies and other controversies trouble me deeply.
I am for equality and gay rights. I think that if you are black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Gay, Straight, Bisexual, Transgender, short, tall, fat, skinny, Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Christian etc. you should have the same rights as anyone else. I thought that this was agreed upon by all but sadly i have learned that it is not. If a black teenager was being harassed in school because he or she is black then there would be outrage. If a christian teenager was being harassed in school because he or she was christian then there would be outrage. Where is the outrage? LGBT students are being harassed. This needs to be addressed. There happens to be a group that supports them and their rights. How is that a bad thing? What is there about that that is negative? Women worked for their rights, African Americans worked for their rights and now it's time for the people of alternative sexual orientations to have their rights. And they and their allies are fighting. I feel that they should be supported by their communities.
Harassment policies should be all encompassing. That is all there is to it. Hatred should never be tolerated in schools. Never. There is no question. If a certain group being harassed and needs help they should receive it.
The argument always comes up that "our tax dollars are paying for this?"
Yes. Tax dollars go to all. The public and just because you do not personally have a need for something does not mean the public does not have a need for it. I give an example: I pay taxes, my family pays taxes. I do not need to go to an LGBT support group I do not need a football team at my high school. I do not need the library to carry books on knitting. I do not need the library to carry children's books. But someone needs those things. The public needs those things. I pay taxes towards them but i get OTHER things from my tax dollars. I get a debate team, i get usable roads, i get Kurt Vonnegut novels. I am sick of hearing this argument.
I am sure i will have more to say in the future. please comment.
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