addictions iPod Nano: craft escape pod pod castle podcasts politically incorrect PRI pri selected shorts public radio international radio diaries sew forth now slate political gabfest the moth This American Life threadbangers veracifier zaproot
by Blabby
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I heart podcasts
Jay left me a nice comment explaining that she also enjoys podcasts while sewing. I was going to just reply to her comment, but I was going on and on, so I figured I should make a post about it.
To me, listening to a good podcast while sewing (or driving or grocery shopping when I’m alone) is like heaven. Especially if it’s good. I feel the same about a good audio book, although, I’ve been picking duds lately. So I thought I’d share all my favorite podcasts with you. I hope you’ll share a favorite here too if you don’t see it listed! I included links to most of their websites, but I get all my podcasts on iTunes.
Here are my free favorites in the strictly audio category:
- This American Life
- Slate Political Gabfest
- The Moth
- PRI Selected Shorts
- New Yorker Fiction
- Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher
My favorite video podcasts are Zaproot and Threadbangers. And sometimes, I love Veracifier, but I don’t like to subscribe anymore, because they post a million podcasts, and I can’t keep up with them.
For crafting, Sew Forth Now is cool because she highlights good links on the internet for sewing. I find it frustrating because I’m not usually near a computer when I’m listening to a podcast. But her blog has all the links.
I’m testing out some new Sci Fi podcasts - Escape Pod and Pod Castle. I haven’t listened to much, so I’m going to reserve judgement, but I like the idea of good Sci Fi stories on my iPod.
Finally, Slate has a cool textcast called Slate Magazine’s Today’s Paper. Someone writes up and summarized all the major headlines from the day’s big newspapers - NYT, WSJ, LAT. I like to keep a few in my iPod so I have reading material if I’m stuck waiting somewhere. Textcasts are a little tricky - you press the center button on your iPod 3 times fast, and the text pops up, and you can scroll through and read it. I kind of wish they’d just read it, then I’d keep up with the news in a more timely fashion, but I like the idea of it.
ear buds
Is it just me, or are all ear buds uncomfortable? I spend a lot of time with my ear buds in my ear. Illegally driving with them in, drowning out Bob the Builder and Thomas the Train - but not my son, of course. I always have an audio book or a podcast going. Or sometimes it’s just the Indigo Girls. The point here is that I hate my ear buds.
I think there are options out there for me, but I’m afraid to find them. First of all, go to any electronics store, and you’ll see a million options. Well, at least ten. Anyway, they range from $30 to $200! For earphones, people! Crazy.
I actually don’t want the expensive ones - not because they’re overpriced, but because I don’t want all noise blocked out. Like I said, I keep my ear buds in, but I need to know everything that’s happening around me, so the cheap ones are fine for my purposes.
The real problem is that I have really small ears! The standard nano earbuds are way too big and don’t stay in my ears. I’ve bought three different sets that have various sizes of bud covers, but even the small ones are too big. I can wear them, but they’re so uncomfortable!
Any other small-ear people out there with solutions to my problem?
books Crafts iPod Nano quilting sewing: Ira Glass new kings of nonfiction quilting selected shorts sewing slate's political gabfest This American Life threadbangers tpm veracifier zaproot
by Blabby
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New Kings of Nonfiction
This is what I’m reading…edited by Ira Glass (of This American Life-fame) it’s a compilation of great non-fiction writing. I’m almost done, and by far, the story about Lois Weisberg is my favorite. If you’re a fan of NPR or PRI, I think you’ll love this book. I think they were giving it away when you donated so much to PRI…but I got my copy at the library. It’s about a week overdue now, but I want to finish it.
On my iPod, I’m enjoying Zaproot, Threadbangers, TPM Media’s Veracifier, This American Life, NPRs Selected Shorts, New Yorker Fiction, and Slate’s Political Gabfest. Check them all out! Free is awesome!
My current favorite activitie is to put on hot lingerie, my iPod, and work on a quilt. Just kidding about the lingerie. But I do love to sew with my iPod on. It is true peace. I highly recommend it.
amy butler Crafts iPod Nano quilting sewing: amy butler amy butler belle ipod ipod case ipod case pattern iPod Nano minkie sewing
by Blabby
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ipod cover
I made this goofy iPod cover…I’m not so great at planning out all the things that have to be sewn into pieces before they’re sewn. For example, I did not sew on any kind of closure, so the finished thing doesn’t close. You might be thinking, “why not sew on a closure now?” Well, the answer is that I could, but not the closure I wanted. I wanted to use these cute little pearl snaps. They must be applied to the fabric before the fabric is all sewn up and you have no access to the back. Make sense?
So anyway, the thing hold my iPod, but it’s flimsy, and I prefer the store-bought case with the clip so it stays in my pocket.
Anyway, here’s what worked:
- The think clear vinyl made a cool pocket, and my paper circle punch (1 in. diameter) cut a great circle for accessing the buttons.
- The minkie makes a nice inside for my precious nano.
- The basic design was pretty successful, although I think a little smaller would be better.
Here’s what didn’t work:
- I forgot the snaps.
- I forgot the openings for the earphone cord and the keylock switch. It’s funny, I had the flap drawn on my sketch, but when I went to cut the fabric, I couldn’t remember what that flap was for, so I left it out. Turns out, it was my bottom closure that left space on either side for the keylock switch and the earphone cord.
- Turning the whole thing inside out messes up the vinyl, and since it can’t be ironed, I think it would be better to put that pocket on last with topstitching, rather than putting it in the fabric sandwich that gets flipped.
blessings books iPod Nano Ira Glass: atonement audible audiobooks bill maher books Ira Glass kathleen mcgowan libraries political gabfest slate the expected one This American Life
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Library vs. Audible
I love my iPod nano. It’s cute and perfect and holds a million hours of entertainment. It fits in my pocket. I love love love it. This is why I thought I’d love Audible.
In theory, I do love audible. I always have my iPod with me, so I thought having the audiobooks I’m listening to on there would solve the problem of always having to listen to audiobooks in the car. First of all, my son understands (perhaps ‘repeats’ is a better word) curse words now, so lots of books are out. Second, he gets tense and whiny when there’s a tense scene in the book. Not good. Plus, he loves air guitar and drums, so I’d rather let him enjoy music.
In comes Audible. I can listen to my book anywhere. Except, I’m really picky. I check out two or three audiobooks from the library each trip. I usually only listen to one all the way through. If I don’t like it, or I’m not looking to listen to the next installment, I give up on it and return it. With Audible, I feel like I have to choose so carefully because I’m paying for it. My first selection was Atonement and I could care less about it. (To be fair, I’m only on chapter 5 or 6, so I haven’t really given it a chance.) Now I have another credit sitting in my Audible account, and I’m kind of gun shy. I don’t want to waste it.
My first idea was to try out books from the library, and then, if I love the book, use my Audible credit to get it. But with the last audiobook I listened to, The Expected One, I felt like I already had it for free, and it would be wasteful to return the free book just to purchase the same book from Audible.
There’s one other problem. Lately, when I have the chance to listen to my iPod, I catch up on episodes of Slate’s Political Gabfest, This American Life, or Real Time with Bill Maher. Which is also why I haven’t given Atonement it’s proper attention.
So is the problem time? Maybe. How do I best use my time?
How do people deal with these dilemmas?
Please understand that I appreciate the bounty of my blessings as I write these things. I know there are people who can’t read, who don’t have books, who don’t have libraries, who can’t afford iPods or Audible accounts. These things don’t really help me. They just make me feel guilty.
And what do any of these things have to do with tool storage? Ha, I got you on that last one, didn’t I?
New iPod Nano
As my good friend Lou said, I’m just going to buy the iPod. I looked up the worth of my old shuffle on secondrotation.com (thanks, Steph!), and it’s worth a measly $20. So I’ll give it to someone instead. Now I just have to decide between the super cool colors of the new video iPod Nano!
I’m leaning towards red - which benefits HIV/AIDS missions in Africa. I considered the iPod Touch, but my MotoQ phone has internet, email, etc., so I don’t need any of that stuff. I’m excited that the Nano has video capability now - then I can watch TV shows at the gym, which will keep me from using the “my shows are on” excuse to stay home. Meanwhile, I’ll be Tivoing and VCRing all the other shows that are on so I don’t miss anything :) I’ve got a real sickness when it comes to TV.
I went to buy one at Best Buy last Friday and was so sad to find that they’re not even out yet. So this week is exciting, indeed! But the red one is only available online from the Apple store, so I need to pick a color first. What do you think?
