• really cool stickers and patches from all of the world (from different schools or clubs/organizations or sporting teams or bands, etc);
• cool track and field stuff from all levels of the sport (pictures, entry tags, videos (dvd or digital), team shirts, etc….ps i’m partial to throwers and distance/cc but i love everybody!);
• bike maps;
• maps from countries other than the USA;
• pictures of you and your favorite stuffed animal doing something awesome (if you actually mail your stuffed animal to me, i promise i’ll mail it back asap…Rattle Bear LOVES visitors [make sure you include an addy to mail it back to]);
• pen pal letters (snail mail is cool, send a picture with it…i’ll write you back! it’d be cool to be a pen pal to deployed military personnel – gotta support the troops!);
• really sweet Alpha Phi Omega NSF paraphernalia or pics of you with your really sweet para (if it’s really precious to you and you don’t want to permanently part with it, i’ll send it back, include an addy to mail it back to);
• other things that are super sweet and cheap;
• stuff you’d like me to review in Soulville

I’m going to write about everything i get in the mail and take pictures of me (or Rattle Bear) with the items. If you want something returned to you, include a name and address so I can send it back once I’ve posted. I’d like to keep stickers, patches, maps, track stuff, and pictures so please mention if it’s something that you want back or I’ll assume those things are for me to keep (obviously not gonna keep an Olympic gold medal but if you don’t put a return address I can’t send back). NOT ACCEPTING anything biological, chemical, radiological, nuclear, biohazardous, needles, drugs, nude photos, creepy letters, anything R or NC-17, jock straps, real animals, food, etc – you get the point I hope.

If you’re sending something electronically, please email it to me here.

If you’re sending something tangible, please mail it to me here:

HarriMac c/o Ellie
PO Box 2098
New York, NY 10027
(If it’s coming a way besides the US Postal Service, please email me first)

Can’t wait to see what cool stuff I get!

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I tested the feature that allows you to see the play by play on a set of recent flights and I must say it will be my preferred method to check and see gate changes and delays when I’m on my way to the airport or in the airport from now on. No more craning my neck to read those busy blue monitors! I was very impressed that the application updates the flight information almost as quickly as it is updated in an airport. My gate changed and I knew almost instantaneously. You do have to check the app to see that, but if you’re in an airport, you’re checking anyway right?

TripAssist has a feature allows you or others to receive emails or SMS messages about flight updates such as take off and landing. I wasn’t as impressed with this feature as a person flying, though I’m sure it could be useful to someone picking you up. I had about a 20 minute delay between my actual takeoff and a text (of course by which my phone was off) and actual landing and a text (I’ve landed already – I know that). But like I said, maybe useful for letting others know you’re safely on the ground. You can add extras, such as hotels and rental cars, directly from the application based off the itinerary information you’ve added.

The only thing that could be added to make this even better would be the layout of every airport, but of course that would bog down the app. And there are already maps in the airport (which tell you where you are). Overall I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.

Click this link to see a video on the Expedia website about the app. Have any of you used it? What do you think??

Related posts:

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2. 15 Really Cool and Free iPhone Apps
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What You’ll Need
Camera dimensions
A ruler
Good pair of scissors
Fabric of your choosing
A sewing machine OR needle and thread (with pincushion and a thimble if you’ve got them)*
Dry beans (the smaller the better)
Patience & time

*I used needle and thread. If you use a machine, you’ll need to alter these instructions.

1. Figure out what size bag you need. What are the dimensions of your camera? I took the dimensions of my camera and added about an inch to each side to be careful. I have a fixed lens so I used the shortest lens length possible for my measurements. If you have a DSLR with a very long lens, adding a few more inches wouldn’t hurt.

2. Pick a material. I had some scrap material leftover from a walmart run a few years ago. Great looking fabric and exactly what I needed. While you can go pick a material you like out at the store, also check out what you have around the house like old tshirts or jeans. You want something durable but lightweight.

3. Cut your material to size. Instead of using a single layer in my bag, I doubled the cloth over then cut it so I could have two layers on each side of the pouch. This is the same as laying your material one layer flat then cutting a piece 4x the dimensions you need. If it’s denim you’re cutting, this probably isn’t necessary, but I would recommend for bags made out of tshirts as well. You can make marks on the cloth with a pen or chalk, whatever works. Make the marks on the INSIDE of the fabric. That is, use the side that isn’t going to end up on the outside when you’re all said and done. Cut carefully. There is always the opportunity to trim down after you stitch the bag, but it could end up too small if you’re off at this point.

For my smaller bag, I used this strip of fabric

Notice the difference between the look of the fabric in these two photos? This is the “inside” or dull side of the fabric, while the other is the one we want to see on the outside.

4. If you haven’t already folded your material over, do this now.

5. If you want, put needles or pins in each side of your material to hold it in place while you sew. It’s not absolutely necessary.

6. Start to sew near one of the corners but not at the absolute edge of the material (maybe 1/4 to 1/2 an inch in) with a backstitch. If you’ve never done one before it’s fairly simple. This video demonstrates the general technique, but to start and stop the row of stitches, do a few loops using the same 2 holes (if you watched the video take the needle into hole 1  then hole 2, back into hole 1 then back into hole 2 and hole 1 again before continuing). It allows your stitches to stay put. You can sew continuously around the entire bag if you want at once or do each side one at a time. On the fourth side, do not close! You need enough space to a) be able to flip your bag inside out and b) pour beans in.

If you used a sewing machine, this is a very easy step and should take about 5 minutes. If you sew by hand (like I did), the total process might take 30 minutes. You can see below that I sewed two lines. I did this as a precaution in case my outermost stitching came loose, I wouldn’t break the bag! It just adds some strength to the bag.

Look at the backstitches. These were used all the way around.

Leave a pocket to flip your bag through and to fill it.

7. Once you have the main stitching done, feed your bag through the hole to flip it inside out. This is the same process you’d use if you were sewing a pillow.

8. Now make sure all your seams are strong. Pull the sides a little bit to see if you missed sewing any material or if a stitch breaks easily. If it’s great, fill the bag with enough beans to give it a squishy bean bag feeling. Not too many beans should go in the bag because you don’t want it to be so stiff it doesn’t mold to your camera and the surface it will sit on. But add enough so it is sturdy. I used the top of a coke bottle to keep from spilling the beans everywhere. I used lentils because of their size.

9. Sew up the last part of your bag. I know it’d be awesome to have none of your stitching show, but for this part your stitches will show. Start sewing just before the hole and continue to sew past the other end of the hole. You may find a few other stitches more worthwhile here, but I continued with the backstitch. Since I actually made two bags, I used two stitches for the larger one and just the backstitch for the smaller one.

10. Test it out!! Make sure your masterpiece works as you want it to BEFORE you take it outside. That would be a costly mistake to find out it was too lumpy later. I put in my beans and then actually held the gap shut while I played before I sewed my bag completely shut.

I hope this tutorial has helped with improving your photography and your sewing skills! Post completed pictures of your masterpieces!!

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1. Travelin’ for the Holidays
2. Hand Coding Anyone?
3. More (yes MORE) free and great iPhone apps!

CauseWorld
Are you out shopping or eating and want a quick easy way to donate to charitable organizations without spending any extra money? Check out this app. It looks for where you are in the world then tells you participating locations where you’ll then “check in”. Once you check in, you earn “karmas”. Get a certain number of karmas and donate them to the charity of your choice. Pretty simple, right? I’ve donated karmas for classrooms and drinking water, but now I’m saving so I can help give vaccines. It’s yet another app with Facebook connectivity (sorry but I’m still on the old school basic Facebook), so you can invite folks you know if you want or share your good deeds. Sometimes I do have problems with the app finding me & local stores, but when it does it’s great. Download it and get to work!

TwitBird
I saw this app in the app store and I had to check it out when I saw it had the ability to find twitterers near you. So I downloaded it just to check that out. It’s a pretty solid twitter app and while the free version may not replace TweetDeck for me, it’s great to see what people in my locale are talking about. Even the twitter homepage can’t do that for me right now (I know it can for some places but not where I am). I really like the features it has including being able to check tweets from the lists you made in twitter, having multiple accounts easily accessible without accidently sending from the wrong one, and push notifications. Rock on!

NYCWAY
Since Ellie lives in NYC and I like to visit her there, I’m always looking for great apps to help both of us out. This app is very good. The only thing I didn’t see listed in any category was bookstores (though they do have all the libraries listed!), but I emailed the app developers and they emailed me back within minutes and said they’d work on adding it to the next release. That gives them major kudos in my book. It’s well organized and I found things I needed quite easily. Pick the category of what you’re looking for and it will locate what is nearest to you by using the GPS on your phone or any location you put in. So if you’re just planning a trip, it can be very useful if you can give it a landmark to search from. You can even use it on their website!!!

BrightKite
I’m still really trying to get the hang of BrightKite but the premise is neat – a social networking site based on your geographic location. Of course you can talk to and see what people all over the world are doing, but you can leave messages at random places in your town and when another BrightKite user is near it, they can see them! Isn’t that cool?

xkcd
If you’re not familiar with this cartoon (xkcd is the name), please download immediately. If you love this cartoon, do the same. It’s exactly what you think it is, a quick way to view cartoons (and probably have people on the bus looking at you funny). You can even see the alt text that can be even funnier than the actual graphic.

last.fm
At first I was in love with Pandora. Until I started getting too many repeats and songs that were nothing like what I asked to listen to. Enter last.fm. It’s exactly what I needed. I can pick an artist, a genre, a random mix, etc. Based on what I’ve played on my iPod or iPhone or computer (using the scrobbler application), it will give me suggestions of artists to check out. I can make playlists of songs I like and listen to just those. The iPhone app is very functional for what you need it for and you can control the site from your computer as well. I really like that it can show me the patterns of my listening by artist. Mine currently tells me that I’ve listened to a lot of Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds lately! If you’re listening to radio as opposed to your library, great download.

Period Plus
Ok ladies, listen up! (Sorry fellas!) Have you ever gotten to the doctor and had to fill out the dreaded “last day of period” on a form? Can’t remember exactly, just kinda when in a range it was? Not sure about something that happened 2-3 months ago? Put it all in this free app. That’s all I gotta say.

IMDb
Like the website? Get the app. Look up info on movies, actors, tv listings, etc. Full reviews, just like on the website, and the top film listings are here too. Want to know when that DVD you’ve been waiting on will be released? It’s got the new list of DVDs and Blu-ray discs available. If I even need a suggestion for movies to suggest to my worst enemy, I can check out the bottom 100 films (as rated by users).

Kernel Mobile
I love reading my campus (UK) paper every day. It’s the greatest source of news for what’s happening on campus right now and a lot easier to understand than the university web site. At least from a student perspective. Anyway, this app keeps me from picking up a paper copy of the news from the newsstand (I’m trying to be green). Instead, I can read all the latest news on the go and even check out archives. Need the classifieds? Check. Sports news? Check.  (And to be biased, this is my 3^rd school so I have to pause here to give props to The Appalachian and The Pitt News, though they don’t have iPhone apps).

Indeed
Even though I’m STILL in school, it is almost time for me to be done. So I’m job hunting. I really got turned on to the site Indeed a few months back and they’ve got a great app that works almost identically to their website. Put in all the necessary info and voila! Search results. Check it out, I think you’ll like it! You’ll even be able to quickly re-search a previous search (it keeps track).

In a couple weeks, look for another post – this time a non-iPhone related one. The next post will be on how to spring clean – the advanced version. In the meantime though, tell me what you think about the iPhone apps I blogged about today!

Related posts:

1. 15 Really Cool and Free iPhone Apps
2. More Free iPhone Apps for the Holidays!!
3. Ten More Cool and Free iPhone Apps

Fudge Drops – If you like brownies, or if you’re just a choc-a-holic, these are a must do. Feel free to change around the chocolate types and forms you use in the recipe. I’ve used dark chocolate, semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. I’ve also used chips and bars individually and combined them at times.

Peanut Butter Cookies – This recipe is the one I used and I used crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth peanut butter. This recipe yielded only about 18 cookies for me, so the second time I doubled the recipe.

Chocolate Chip – A favorite year after year. If you make em right, lots of people will be happy. I didn’t try the rocky road bar mentioned in the article though certainly that’s on my “to do” list.

Snickerdoodles – One of my all time favorite cookies. Simple, quick and tasty. The recipe calls for a certain amount of sugar and cinnamon in the mixture you roll the dough balls in – I mix according to my taste, so I actually put in more cinnamon than it called for.

What kind of cookies do you like? What do you have with them? (I prefer a huge cup of whole milk with mine)

Related posts:

1. The Great Peanut Butter Scare
2. Mastering the Art of Grocery Store Shopping

Chorus – A pretty neat application I came across that works far better than the standard App Store. It works like a social networking application and you find applications based on your interests, your friends interests, or just by a regular search. When you find an app you like, Chorus lets you know what apps are similar that you might find interesting. Just like the regular App Store, it lets you search through paid and free apps and even gives you friends to start with as you build your friend base in the program.

Dropbox – Actually just came across this really cool storage application. Dropbox is an online storage solution with up to 2GB free, then paid levels above that. You can use Dropbox online, on your computer and access files via your iPhone. You can have all kinds of files – music, photos, documents – and share them with others if you choose. Either way, your files are secure. Only downside is that you can’t upload anything from your phone or download to the phone. Definitely useful though.

Chipotle Ordering – If you’re working hard and find yourself craving Chipotle but don’t have time to stand in line because you need to get back to work (or truthfully are just too lazy to stand in line after you get there), order your food with this app from any Chipotle location and pick it up. You pay via the app (which is linked to your online Chipotle account so none of your info is stored on your phone) and just pickup at the time you specified. I used it and it made me happy! (Just in case you’re wondering, I’m a steak fajita bowl type of girl)

Starbucks Mobile Card – As a student/professional I rely on some coffee or tea to make it through a lot of busy/hectic days. I have a Starbucks card since they are on my campus but I can’t always get to my computer to check my card balance or add money. Never fear this app is made by Starbucks to help you manage your card on the go. Mmmm I can taste that Venti White Chocolate Mocha now!

PS Mobile – I’ve been disappointed with the iPhone camera sometimes but this app makes it all better. Just like regular PhotoShop, you can crop and edit photos and make them look great to then send to others. You can upload your photos to PhotoShop.com if you choose (you’ll have to setup an account). While this doesn’t offer everything the regular application does, it makes me happy to be able to crop and brighten some of the dark photos the iPhone seems to routinely take.

Nikon L&E – Speaking of photos, the Nikon L&E (Learn and Explore) app helps you learn more about different photography methods and tools. If you know a lot or just know what a camera is, you’ll find something useful to learn or look at and read about photography. There are articles on shooting techniques, image editing and other fundamentals of photography and all are written to make sense to normal people. Of course since this is made by Nikon, it refers to a lot of Nikon info especially in the image library, so just be mindful about that as you work with it.

Women’s Health Workouts Lite – Do you need some awesome workouts for on the go? This free version of the Women’s Health Workouts app is useful to pick up some new exercise ideas and for some pretty neat workouts based on your needs. It’s designed for women, but there is a free app for men as well. These workouts can fit in your time available and give you the best for your time. Want more? Check out their website for some video downloads for your iPhone.

Sherwin Williams ColorSnap – Do you see a color you really like on say your friend’s sweater and decide that’s want to paint your walls? Open this app, take a picture of what you see and it’ll tell you the color. It’ll even give you a color palette to pick from. The only downside of this app is that sometimes it gives me a slightly more dull color than what I saw but hey, use the PS Mobile app, lighten it up and come back to it! Then when you’re done, find a Sherwin Williams store and go pick up your paint.

F-MyLife – Ok this is the beginning of the procrastination section. If you’ve ever been on the FML website, you know how much fun and time consuming it can be. I could spend hours reading and laughing (and saying “ew”) at the entries. Now you can do it on your phone. Not only can you browse, you can search through entries by entry date and even “shake” to get a random FML. There are several other FML apps and MLIA apps out there as well, including “official” apps. Check those out too for endless laughter!

Paper Toss – The procrastination game here is a computer classic paper toss. Need I explain more? You can toss a ball of paper into a garbage can and aim for a high score. Lotsa fun.

What iPhone apps do you use? How do you like these? Talk to me folks!

Related posts:

1. More (yes MORE) free and great iPhone apps!
2. Ten More Cool and Free iPhone Apps
3. 15 Really Cool and Free iPhone Apps

If you’re looking for ideas, here you go:

photo credit: betsystreeter

Backpack – Classic back to school item. Backpacks have 2 straps (and should always be used with both straps). Typically the best bag to use if you have a LOT to carry or if you have shoulders that easily get sore with messengers, or if you’re always on the move. Can be professional (don’t get the loud colors though) and laid back at the same time.

One of the all time classic backpacks is the Jansport Superbreak. Simple and can carry a few books. I have another classic bag, the LL Bean Turbo Transit. You want to look for a durable material. Always make sure to match the bag to yourself, not just look at whether it’s cool looking or not. If it doesn’t fit the purpose or the amount you need to carry, don’t get it.

photo credit: ndanger

Messenger Bags – Popularized by bike messengers (hence the name), messenger bags are great for carrying items around. Timbuk2 is a popular company for messengers (and other gear) and they make the bags to last a long time. I really trust their products (my current Timbuk2 is the medium laptop messenger…itching to get the Commuter 2.0!). You can get a variety of features on a messenger, such as a laptop sleeve, pockets to hold your goodies, dividers for different uses, padded straps, key hooks, etc. They are available in a variety of sizes from tiny (almost purse size) to extra extra large (for real messengers that have to carry packages).

Some tips on selecting a messenger bag:

• Get a bag with a good strap and one that is durable.
• If you ride a bike, get one that has a space to clip on lights or hook your helmet when you’re not on the bike. I
• f you’re really into recyclable products, another company to check out besides Timbuk2 is Osprey – the Osprey ReSource line is really nice.
• If you carry tons of heavy books, test out a messenger if you can before buying because they can dig into your shoulders and make your back hurt if too heavy.
• If you don’t like Velcro on the flap, put some colored duct tape over the Velcro and voila you have no annoying noise!

photo credit: Russell Crosswy

Sling bags – These are really popular, but usually do not hold as much as a messenger or a backpack. If you have shoulder and back issues beware. Great bags if you’re carrying just a few items (notebook, maybe small laptop and a book) or running errands. It is very easy to bring to the front and get your items out of while keeping on your body. At least for me, I have difficulty biking with this on and keeping it from sliding around but when walking, it is great. Have  a brother that swears by his Jansport sling backpack and uses it frequently for work, school and play. Has plenty of pocket options and a variety of colors.

While I only presented three types of bags here there are so many more options. Check out eBags (the main place I buy bags from) or local stores. Don’t forget a lunch bag to save some dough and a toiletry bag for when you are on the go! Try on as many bags as you can, especially if you don’t buy bags often and if you’re working in a set of must have parameters. Just as when you buy shoes, if a bag feels uncomfortable in the beginning, chances are it’s going to be uncomfortable down the line.

If you have a set price range, stick with it. Or if say your max that you want to spend is $75 and a bag that is known to last for years and is exactly what you want is $85 or even just a little more (up to $100 but not $150!), find a way to pay that little bit now so you aren’t selling it and buying the bag you really wanted later on. It may feel bad to eat tuna for a week so you can pinch it, but you’ll be happier in the end and not be wearing an uncomfortable bag.

What kind of bag do you use? Any suggestions on great styles or brand names?

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Tips for Flying with Technology

If you own a laptop, chances are you get really tired of having to pull it out and then run through the metal detector so some creep doesn’t grab your stuff on the other side (for the record, nothing against TSA but I really don’t feel TSA makes me safer or more comfortable flying). You’re in luck. There are several TSA approved bags and sleeves that allow you to leave the computer in when sending it through the x-ray machine and then it’s a quick pickup on the other side. No one is the wiser and it definitely saves a few minutes. Some of the offerings – from Mobile Edge, FlyThru, Timbuk2, Targus, etc – don’t scream LAPTOP!! and several of the offerings are pretty cool looking bags. [If you’re new to reading Soulville, HarriMac LOVES backpacks and luggage; it‘s also next week‘s topic!].

photo credit: koalazymonkey

Gel-inserts in your shoes may have been a technological advancement in the foot realm, but they are a no-no on planes (except in checked luggage). Instead of getting to the gate and having to go barefoot, try some different insoles that do not contain gel or go to an orthopedist or podiatrist to get insoles specific for you. There is no one size fits all in this category. Chances are, if you were down to gel only inserts, you might be wearing the wrong shoes to begin with and on top of that need professional assistance anyway.

Before you turn your phone off on the plane, if it is a smartphone (iPhone, Blackberry, etc), turn it on the airport mode. Some airlines don’t even like you using this mode, but it just turns off the phone part of your phone and allows you to use the other neat stuff you’ve paid for. In case they don’t allow it, remember a backup like a regular iPod or a Sony PSP (come on, you were really gonna do work on the plane?? In that case, just pull out your laptop).

Headphones on a plane are always my must have. I could be sitting next to a screaming baby and a good pair of headphones would make me forget (well almost). The headphones don’t have to be noise-canceling, but you definitely need over the ear phones that have a bit of cushioning. Earbuds don’t cut it. My current pair is a pair of Sennheiser HD 202. The reviews on Amazon said they were great on planes and I would say they are in the middle. If I concentrated I could hear only my music (without it on full blast), but even without concentrating, the noise of the plane was diminished a great deal. I previously had some really nice Altec-Lansing noise canceling that seriously erased all the noise. I am saving up for the noise canceling Bose headphones or the noise-canceling Sennheiser’s.

Test the headphones before buying if possible.The closest you’re going to get to a plane is a busy electronics store like Best Buy. If they stink then, they’ll probably stink on a plane. Some headphones actually do need a break-in period to become comfortable and sound their best. Find out what retailers or other consumers say before purchasing. Look around for deals online, not just on the major retailers. I picked up my then 150 dollar Altec-Lansing headphones for $40 including shipping. The deal is there!

photo credit: nosha

General Flying

Don’t wait til you get all the way to the conveyor belt to take off your shoes and get your laptop out. The faster you can get all your stuff in bins, the faster you get through the line.

Don’t forget the 3-1-1 rules!!!! Do NOT be that guy chugging a 100 year old bottle of wine at the security belt because he didn’t pay attention.

Some souvenirs from museums and such cannot be carried on planes via TSA rules. Ask the museum if you plan on carrying it on to find out – they should know and might agree to ship it to you free of charge.

Try not to have anything checked if you don’t have to. The prices are steep for a service you probably don’t need (at that cost anyway) – going for a week? Carry it on and pack half what you were planning on. Use a washer and dryer and double up the outfits. If you really do need it and are traveling with others, see if you can combine the luggage to save the extra fees.

With the great times of sitting on the tarmac, try to plan your connecting flights out a bit more. You don’t have to take a connector within 15 minutes of the other plane landing. If need be, call the airline. If you’re going to have to wait a day because of their incompetence, it’d be nice to know in advance. I’m not an advocate of having to be asthmatic sprinting through airports (been there, done that) so that extra cushion time might just save your breath.

photo credit: doevos

What tips do you guys have for flying with technology?

Related posts:

1. Travelin’ for the Holidays
2. 5 Not So Geeky Things To Do When Waiting at the Airport Gate
3. Buying On The Internet: What to Do and What to Avoid

1. TweetDeck – Now my new favorite twitter application for the iPhone, Tweetdeck helps me quickly see what tweets mentioned me or my DMs without having to wade through all my tweets. Very useful if you follow quite a few folks.

2. WordPress – This is extremely helpful for posting quickly to blogs. Recently I was at a conference and needed to update to an organization’s blog and bam! it was done!

Image from http://www.urbanspoon.com

3. Urbanspoon – Those days where I can’t decide what I want to eat when I want to eat out, this can decide for me with the pretty cool random restaurant generator. It allows me to see menus, get phone numbers and even directions!

4. Epicurious - Another cookbook on the go! Similar to Betty Crocker Cookbook, this allows you to search what you’ve got and what you want to find the perfect dish to make at home. Even cooler, I can add all the ingredients of a dish to a quick to pull up grocery list!

5. Facebook – Ok, so I’m addicted to Facebook. Though it certainly doesn’t have all the functionality of the website, it at least lets me see what’s going on, read my messages and post to walls.

6. PayPal – If you are on the go and want to send or receive money quickly or want to check your account status, this is a pretty cool app. Perfect for a secure login to pay for your auctions while away from the computer or to send a friend a dollar!

Image from: http://www.imapmy.com

7. iMapMyFitness/iMapMyRide – I’m a big fan of the iMapMy sites. I regularly keep a log of my exercise there and it allows me to track my bike rides quickly with maps! On the go, you can add to your fitness calendar and check your stats. You can also time yourself and use the GPS function of the phone to add a real time map to your account. How cool!

8. Units – I’m always getting units confused (I attribute that to high school chemistry but shhh don’t tell anybody). I also tend to deal with fields that use both metric and english measuring systems so this app is great for quickly converting within a system or to a different system. Just pick what type of measurement you’re using and run for it!

9. ESPN ScoreCenter – This will prove more handy during a major sports season, but ESPN allows you to pick what teams you want to follow and get a one stop shop for scores! Only downside is that all sports aren’t included (can I get the T&F Grand Prix race times or throwers distances please??).

10. iHandyLevel – Ok, I’m lazy now. Just kidding. When I was moving recently, I needed to set my desk (with adjustable legs) up and make sure it sat correctly. So I downloaded the free iHandyLevel and voila! I had an even desk without guesswork! I also used it to make sure my marker boards and picture frames were straight. Awesome!

What are some of your favorite apps? How do you use your iPhone?

Related posts:

1. 15 Really Cool and Free iPhone Apps
2. More (yes MORE) free and great iPhone apps!
3. More Free iPhone Apps for the Holidays!!

1)    No protection from the sun. When just walking around in the sun, how often do you slather on the sunscreen? I’ll bet never. Usually we don’t think about sunscreen unless we’re playing softball games or at the beach or the pool. And when we do think about it, we often don’t follow the instructions. Yes, the bottle says put it on 15-20 minutes or more PRIOR to going out in the sun. Summer also means less clothes, etc. So what can you do to stay safe? Don’t be outside unless you have to be – I hate to be a spoilsport but we have this thing called an ozone problem and not a lot of protection from UV rays. Wear long sleeves and pants when you can bear it in the heat. Regardless, wear a lot of sunscreen and pick one that is specific for your purpose. Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and a hat to protect your head. Don’t forget sunscreen under those sandals!

photo credit: eL mAnu sORia

2)    Diving in the pool without knowing how to swim. It’s dangerous and not smart, but a lot of times we’ll splash around or let kids splash around in the pools shallow end when no one knows how to swim or there is no lifeguard on duty. Anyone can drown in just inches of water, let alone a 3 foot shallow end. You can get swimming lessons for yourself and kids on the cheap at a Y or similar club. Be safe, not sorry! It’s easy to learn how to swim!

photo credit: sanderals

3)    Heat exhaustion. Being outdoors and not drinking enough fluids can easily have you dehydrated and your body starts to shut down or does shut down. It’s easy to avoid – carry a water bottle or 2, a hydration pack, grab some popsicles and keep yourself cool and wet down. Scout out water fountains in advance and bring your own water cooler. Avoid mixing alcohol with the heat – this can accelerate dehydration and push you over the edge. Should you feel the effects of the sun a bit too much and get nauseated or dizzy while out, go to the emergency room. They can handle your condition far easier than you could attempt in your own home.

photo credit: B Rosen

4) Undercooked food. Summer is synonymous with grilling out. But don’t forget – the outside of the meat cooks (or looks cooked) faster than the inside. Use meat thermometers – they exist for a reason – and check the inside of your meat before serving. If it’s pink in the middle, it’s done to little!! Salmonella and E coli are not fun and definitely will impair your summertime fun. Medium well tastes just as good!

photo credit: queenkv

5)    Bug, bugs, bugs. If you’re lucky, you don’t have many bugs this time of year outside your home. But some of the rest of us have red ants, mosquitoes, chiggers, ticks, fleas, etc and they are NOT fun. Be very careful and use repellents and don’t be out longer than you need to be. If you have standing water in your yard, get rid of it – it breeds mosquitoes. Tall grass can be a hiding place as well so keep it trimmed down. There are “environmentally friendly” repellents if that’s your kick. Red ants can be the worst, but bugs that bite can carry disease that can hurt you so don’t scratch and touch. Clean the bites carefully and then wash your hands carefully.

photo credit: PhOtOnQuAnTiQuE

What are some of your summer health worries?

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