Since 2006 iTunes has put together 12 music and training compilations for running with various athletes and artists. This article reviews these compilations. Some things to compare are the artists tastes, the length of the music/training audio, and the year of production to give a sense of progression (if it matters to you).

2006 iTunes Treadmill Running Mixes
Jay Blahnik is your voice over music inspirational guru who trains you running on the treadmill, appropriately called Treadmill training. iTunes has a series of three -Mixed Terrain, Hill repeats 1, and Distance Challenge 1 - for you to use, and though there is a progression in place moving from one to the other, you are free to choose according to your interests and abilities.

Each Treadmill compilation is 30 minutes in length and features music selections that will get you running.

Treadmill Training: Mixed Terrain 1

I Want You Back (Z-Trip Remix), Jackson 5
ABC (Salaam Remi Krunk-A-Delic Party Mix), Jackson 5
Tubthumping, Chumbawumba
What I Got (Radio Edit), Sublime
One Thing Leads to Another, The Fixx
No More Words, Berlin
Fired Up, Funky Green Dogs
I Just Want to Celebrate (Mocean Worker Remix), Rare Earth

Treadmill Training: Hill Repeats 1

Saturday Night Gallop, Hockey Night
Walking to Do, Ted Leo Pharmacists
I’m Pretty Sure I Can See Molecules, Troubled Hubble
Play My Game, The Donnas
Fragile Awareness, The Pattern
Wild Ride, The Oranges Band
I’m In the Band, Bratmobile
Cover, Enginedown
Right Foot, The Washdown
Hyperactive, The Donnas
The Angel’s Share, Ted Leo Pharmacists
Perfect Weapon, Communique’

Treadmill Training: Distance Challenge 1

Destroyer, The Stills
Still In Love, The Stills
Hang On, Girl, Favourite Sons
Thank Me With Your Hands (MSTRKRFT Remix), Panthers
Banquet, Bloc Party
Theory Is Famous, Panthers
She’s Hearing Voices, Bloc Party
Romantic Rights, Death From Above 1979
Helicopter, Bloc Party
Cold War, Death From Above 1979
Lola Stars and Stripes, The Stills

Each CD comes with downloadable versions of each of the songs, and a digital version of the Training booklet.

The workouts will challenge you to go as hard as you desire through series of staged and timed activities such as a warm up, hill climbs or varied terrain workouts.

FUNQUE 4/5
active tunes to drive your training

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In January 2008, Nike, Serena Williams and iTunes launched another new running iTunes training and coaching compilation. This is but another in a series of music and coaching works that not only guides the runner through different stages of a run but offers personal music collections of the “coach.” So far Lance Armstrong, Serena Williams and Jack Engram have put together compilations and training comments to run by.

Nike offers other compilations in other sports. We urge you to click on the links and venture into Nike’s fantastic collection of tools and information pointing to their collection of tunes, mixes and training assists. To get the music click over to iTunes and look for iTunes sports mixes.

FUNQUE - 5/5

Complete, compelling and beneficial

Check out our Amazon Store. You can review, compare and shop all in one!

Microsoft Surface has an interesting presentation of many of the same attributes represented in the YouTube video. They state development has been underway since 2001 and they are now working on applications in different environments - schools, businesses and homes.

Popular Mechanics has a more detailed and informative look into this technology. The star in the above video also appears in this video.

The design of this kind of technology offers flexibility for use on flat surfaces such as a counter top, the wall or white/blackboard, and the kitchen table or office table. As well it rids us of some of the paraphernalia used today - the keyboard and mouse.

These Surface computers are available for businesses and high-end users in the 5k-10k range, with mainstream market selling (with lower prices) set for 2010.

What is Blu-Ray? In a nutshell, Blu-Ray discs can store up to 50 GB of data, many times more than a maxed out DVD disc. The Blu comes from the fact that the optical light reading the disc is blue. The DVD players are red. If you remember your physics classes back in school light colors have different wave lengths. The blue is shorter and is thus able to harness more data. Blue is a cleaner and hotter flame than red, right?

Why should we care? HD_DVDs will not be made by Toshiba - the leader in the HD-DVD area - and many other companies. Blu-Ray is the format that the entertainment folks have signed on for, and many others are lining up to sign on. There are now more than 500 titles in the US in Blu-Ray, and 250+ in Japan. So, industry it seems is telling us to move on over. There are many other signals out there asking the consumer to shift technologies - for another discussion.

Blu-Ray has been around for a few years so the pricing has reflected demand, fairly high. (Remember when video players came out? If you are old enough you can remember the high prcies paid for those. Now look at them, can you find one?)

That being said, the Panasonic DMP-BD30K 1080p Blu-Ray Disc Player (under Electronics on page 5) is reasonably priced ($529) and delivers exceptional quality graphics and sound. It plays a large selection of audio and video.

Product Description

plays Blu-ray high-definition discs (selectable output resolution: 1080p signals available through HDMI output only; 720p/1080i signals available through HDMI or component video) * plays DVD-Video, DVD-R & DVD-RW, DVD+R & DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM * plays high-def AVCHD files on home-burned DVDs and SD memory cards * plays CD, audio CD-R & CD-RW, and MP3 CDs * plays digital photo CDs (JPEG) * selectable 720p/1080i/1080p video upconversion for DVD (upconverted video available through HDMI output only)

You’ll want quality to last for at least a few years, and it appears as if this is a good bet.

FUNQUE - 4

Great product, price may be a concern for some.

We buy almost any water bottle without concern that the bottle itself was or may have been harmful to our health - apart from the cutting of our lips, or the odd minor nuisance. However, now news and research has shown that there are versions of plastic out there deemed to be somewhat toxic -to very very minor degrees - we may have to re-think the simple pleasure of grabbing the water bottle and sucking away at our water.

Read what the Labour Alliance Environmental Society from Western Canada states:

According to several recent studies, polycarbonate plastic readily leaches a chemical called bisphenol-A (BPA) into foods and liquids that are stored in containers made from it. BPA has been identified as an endocrine disrupting chemical, or a chemical that easily mimics hormones when absorbed by the human body. In the case of BPA, the hormone being mimicked is estrogen. Exposure to this compound at the wrong time can cause a cell division problem called aneuploidy in which chromosomes do not evenly split as a cell divides, leaving the two resulting cells with more or fewer chromosomes than normal. This uneven distribution of genetic material can in turn lead to cancer, miscarriage, and birth defects that include Down’s Syndrome.

Low levels of BPA, including those well below the current regulatory safety threshold, have also been shown to affect prostate development, promote prostate tumors, affect breast tissue development and sperm counts, and even possibly create and enlarge fat cells. (www.leas.ca)

Another international perspective is the article from Chemistry World written by German scientists written in January 2006. So the discussion has been around for a while.

The plastic is called Lexan Polycarbonate and is used in CDs, DVDs, mobile phone, computers, and bullet proof windows (that we all have, right?) So don’t be alarmed, you won’t mutate or lose your fingernails. The concern is more for babies, pregnant mothers or those sensitive to the negligible effects that this plastic poses.

So what does this mean for those of you active people who consume water from bottle? Simplest thing to do is check the bottom of the bottle and look for a triangle. In the middle of that triangle there is a number such as 3, 4 and so on. If there is a “7″, then throw it our or use it for a flower pot or whatever.

While there might be risk for health using these bottles, there is undoubtedly a risk to the environment. These bottles don’t break down in refills. If they are fire blasted they release toxic fumes. So the best net is to by metal, steel or some other form of hard plastic that you plan on keeping for a while.

When you look at the aStore through the link in the top of the right panel, you will come across water bottles in the Running category, keep this discussion in mind.

FUNQUE - 2
Because of the cloudiness and concerns raised we’ll have to give the regulatory folks a downgrade on this one due to their lack of a timely response.

This technology will inevitably be a mainstream device with which we will read text. On top of the practical application of the Kindle, the environmental benefits will be reflected in huge savings of trees and paper, printing and transportation costs, and the added expense of buying books.

Wireless readers have been around for a few years now, but the technology has not met with broad usership and support. One reason has been access to reading materials, not just books, but newspapers, magazines and other print mediums. Amazon Kindle has access to over 100,000 books and additional newspapers, magazines and Blogs.

Here are a few features of kindle .
- wireless access
- weighs 10.3 ounces
- screen has a paper-like appearance
- easy to use and operate
- easy shop-click-buy-read process
- search your library
- QWERTY keyboard
- add comments to text

We have included a very comprehensive review of kindle for further information. It is our belief that the Kindle will be the major technology in e-book reading. Further to the bold step in wireless readers is the fact that the application of this technology to our lifestyle is beneficial for the environment.

You can check out the complete Kindle description, video and specifications in the scrolling pictures above. In the spirit of earth day other other Green products in the aStore in the panel on the right are posted for your use.

FUNQUE - 4/5
Very compelling and complete wireless reader.

(FUNQUE - a rating system out of 5 based on characteristics of functionality and uniqueness.)

Nash has been a proponent of going green in order to reduce his carbon footprint. As for the shoe Nash states, “I think it’s great for creating awareness, and whether this shoe goes a long way toward curbing global warming or not, it’s the idea. It also sets a precedent for the future, not only for Nike but for other companies to explore conserving, reusing and recycling.” (Canwest Global, March 29, 2008)

NikeBiz website article displays the shoe and more background to the story.

Farecast.com helps you determine when its the right time to buy an airline ticket, and whether a hotel rate you may pre-booked is a good one. Farecast.com forecasts air and hotel prices by looking at historic prices from 100+ airline and travel agency websites. After receiving information it then determines whether the prices will fall or rise within the next week. You get a list of available flights and their price prediction. There are a number of options to hep you refine or narrow down your search.

FUNQUE - 4
Awesome idea! Thorough resource base used.

(FUNQUE - a rating system out of 5 based on characteristics of functionality and uniqueness.)

Insidetrip.com focuses on people who want both quality and a good price for their trip. It gives a travel report out of 100 based on its analysis of factors such as stopovers, legroom, delays, travel duration, lost bags etc. You can book tickets through this site. However, one drawback (for now at least) is that it uses only one service, Orbitz, for its information and purchasing. However, the template is there for future success.

FUNQUE - 3
Neat idea, but use of one traveler database provides limits.

(FUNQUE - a rating system out of 5 based on characteristics of functionality and uniqueness.)

InsideTravelTips.com offers reviews on travel websites. Recent hotel price comparisons were put up on the site using data from many of the travel websites - Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz etc..

FUNQUE - 3.5
A review of internet sites is always beneficial!

(FUNQUE - a rating system out of 5 based on characteristics of functionality and uniqueness.)

One site uses the past to predict future pricing, another informs us of quality type decisions for our travel planning, and another looks at the travel sites themselves through comparison to offer planning alternatives. Three unique ways to help us plan our travel.