Herculodge

Convincing Argument for Getting the Seiko Sumo Over the Orient M-Force Rides on the Bracelet

Excellent watchuseek review shows why it's better to spend a bit more on the Sumo. 

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Is It Too Late for Me to Get Ripped?

Doug S writes:

I am a bit out of shape and 49. I have the frame that could make me ripped. Tall and husky. Is it too late?

Herculodge answers:

I'm 51 and though not ripped I currently weigh 215, far less than my lardish 255, from 9 years ago.

The answer is go off processed foods. Go on a flexible Paleo diet. Get your carbs from sweet potatoes, fruits,plain  yogurt. Don't get them from grains.

Don't eat the evil white foods: sugar, flour, potatoes, rice, pasta.

Don't drink juice, soda, sugary drinks, including "energy" drinks. 

For good reading material, check out the works of Gary Taubes, Michael Pollan, and Culinary Intelligence by Peter Kaminsky. 

If you learn to enjoy these dietary changes and implement them consistently, your body will transform for the better. 

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Paul Unearths an FM Radio Recorder on Amazon: Simply Vibe for $30

 

Interesting product - has an FM radio recorder!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055OPXZ8/

CC Pocket Radio Review from Yahoo Ultralightdx

Thanks, Gary:

Here's a review of the CC Pocket radio posted today by m_a_schuster on the Yahoo ultralightdx group:

My radio came in today's mail. I have only tried in on daytime MW so far. Some initial observations.

The radio is slightly larger than the DT-400. The case, while clad in rubber on some surfaces, is made of what I call "cheap Chinese plastic". It's that silvery-grey brittle stuff that never looks or feels quite right, and has a tendency to crack under stress. This is of functional importance because of the battery cover; which is unlatched by squeezing along the edge, causing the latched edge to deform towards a rectangular slit. I could easily see that, after 50 openings, that deformable edge will crack off.

The LCD display on my specimen lacks contrast. It improves somewhat when you tune around and the LED illuminates the display - but considering the QC issues that CCrane has had with displays on other larger models, I'm a bit surprised.

Getting used to pressing multiple unlabelled buttons simultaneously to accomplish certain functions is tedious. Also I've had a few instances in which I've selected something (like changing from 10 to 1 KHz steps) and the controls are frozen afterward, requiring power off to get access again. Accessing presets off the first (default) page is a pain too.

There is some minor CPU/display noise on some frequencies which disappears when you use the 2-key combination to turn the display off. Firmware is intelligent here; if you change frequency the display comes back on.

Adjacent channel selectivity is superb even with the default 4 KHz filter. The only situation in which adjacent channel splash is apparent is around strong IBOC signals where absolutely nothing helps on any radio.

The radio is also relatively immune to bleed-trough of the local blowtorches clear across the dial, a plague on most other radios here in RF Alley, NJ.

My biggest gripe in initial daytime listening is speaker volume. Only local stations are received with enough volume to listen to at more than 1-2 feet away. In side-by-side comparison with the DT-400, daytime reception of 3-bar strength stations ~40 miles away, even with proper antenna orientation, wide filtering, and fresh batteries often requires putting your ear right on the cabinet. In contrast the DT-400 blasts the same station clear across the room. This is absolutely unacceptable, and I've just emailed CCrane to ask about it. If this can't be fixed, the radio is a non-starter.

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A Good Deed Followed by Bad Thoughts

Walking to LA Fitness this morning, I was a few steps ahead of another member, a man about my age, and after I opened the entrance door, I held the door for him and let him go ahead of me. He thanked me and he had this look of recognition affirming my decency and generosity.

He walked ahead of me to the counter where his membership key chain card was to be scanned by the hostesses’ scanner gun, but he had difficulty finding his key chain card and as he fished through a multitude of cargo pockets my passing through to the main gym floor was delayed. 

I immediately regretted my kind gesture and my feelings of magnanimous grandiosity curdled into peevish petulance. A voice, my Inner Cynic, hissed, “Give up trying to be nice, loser. Just surrender to your real self, you impatient, churlish malcontent.”

God, being me is a full-time job, I thought.

My one hour cardio workout was intense and euphoric, and seemed to subdue, for the moment anyways, my Inner Cynic.

I plan on continuing to be nice to others in spite of who I really am. 

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Mark Roberts Reviews the CC Pocket Radio: "Outstanding Reception Performance"

 

Thanks, Gary:

Here is Mark's more complete review of the CC Pocket radio:

http://markrobt.posterous.com/the-cc-pocket-radio-great-performance-in-a-sm

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First Look at Sangean WR-5 All-in-One iPod Radio: Seems Like a Winner

I purchased the Sangean WR-5, usually for $120, for 72 dollars on Amazon, but the radio went down to $65 after Amazon shipped it. Paul insisted Amazon would give me credit and he was right, so with tax I got this for $71. At this price it appeared to be a  no-brainer as a replacement for the chipped Grundig G4000 with bent antenna (kids brutalized it) that sits ontop of the Yamaha upright.

So far I am not disappointed. I stuck 2 triple A batteries in the back for back-up and started the clock and presets. Then I tested the iPod, which fit the cradle with no problems. Speaker sound from the pod was fine, nothing tinny about it. Don't expect a booming bass with this unit.

The FM and AM are sensitive, well above average. With the iPod in, I'm not getting AM interference.

The biggest surprise is the tiny stereo speakers. They wound warm and bright, not loud, but very pleasing on the ear. 

My deepest concern is blowing out these little speakers. I need to make sure to not get the volume too high. At mid volume, I hope this should be fine. 

One thing I noticed that caused great anxiety: When I unplugged to move from kitchen to living room, I thought the radio had died. I put it back in the kitchen and the display was still black. Then I realized you have to press the dimmer switch to turn on the display after unplugging the unit. You can choose different gradations of light. What a relief that it wasn't dead. I wasn't in the mood to repack this thing, especially since I was pleased with its performance. 

Updates to come. 

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eBay Seller Wants to See Wrist Shots of the Seiko SNAB67 Pilot Watch

How big does the Seiko SNAB67, now for sale on eBay, wear on the wrist? A potential buyer wanted some wrist shots, not on the eBay site, so I obliged. The watch wears 51mm crown to crown and about 44mm across the bezel. It wears like a 45mm or 46mm.

Herculodge Selling His Seiko SNAB67 and Invicta SAS 6181 on eBay

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Will the Miniaturization of Gadgets Meet the Boundaries of the Physical Human Being?

Addressing the question of whether or not tablets will replace laptops over the next five years or so, Jonny writes:

Don't forget about storage space. Maybe everyone will be "clouding it" by then, but I don't know - there's something about having all of your files on your own rig, rather than owned by Google or Microsoft. My big issue with tablets is the lack of a keyboard - I know you can have a dock, but for me I really like a built-in keyboard (I type very fast and am a writer).

At some point the miniaturization of technology meets the boundaries of the physical human being. I haven't even gone the route of smartphone yet, so I guess I'd get an iphone before a tablet and at that point I don't really see the point of owning a laptop, smartphone AND tablet.

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