The Low-Tech Times

I wrote a post earlier about why iPods are unnecessary, but what surprises me even more than the number of people who own an iPod is the number of people I see running with an iPod.

I may be a simple man, but I’ve never found hiking or running to be boring without music. I’ve completed a couple of marathons, a few 50k’s, a handful of 50 milers, and even a 100 mile trail run… all without music. Besides watching the terrain and scenery, I find running to be a good time to think about things. I have not been running such long distances lately, but continue to enjoy running without an iPod.

Besides the fact that I enjoy running without an iPod, running with an iPod does not seem like a good idea for safety reasons. Christine Luff sums it up very well in her How to Run Safely article:

…you really shouldn’t use your iPod or MP3 player for outdoor runs. Cutting off your sense of hearing means you can’t hear oncoming cars, cyclists yelling to move, dogs, or any other potential threat. Save your iPod for your treadmill runs.

Therefore, running with an iPod is not only unnecessary, but also potentially dangerous.

Tina Su’s Think Simple Now blog has an interesting article entitled How to Delete Email Addiction. Tina begins the article by admitting she has a problem:

I have a secret: I am an email-holic, and I am addicted to email.

Despite persistent drive to improve my productivity and personal efficiency, I am hooked on email…

There are four good reasons to choose a manual can opener over electric can openers:

1. A manual can opener works when the power goes out.
2. Manual can openers do not require a great deal of time or effort to open a can.
3. Manual can openers easily fit in a kitchen drawer, thus saving valuable counter space.
4. Manual can openers generally cost less than electric can openers.

Here’s a link to a manual can opener that leaves no sharp edges with good customer reviews available from Amazon.Com: