I consider myself a loyal Amazon.com user and I’ve used a personal wish list for years. Often I use it just to keep track of items I want to eventually buy or even books I hope to borrow from the library. This past Christmas, items started showing up under the tree that were on my list including a book or two that I intended to borrow from the library. I guess I better keep that list up-to-date or create a separate list for my reminders and ticklers!

Recently I bumped into a post on 43 Folders about the Amazon Gift Organizer. I’m surprised I hadn’t noticed this yet but I’ll definitely put it to use. In a nutshell, it allows you to create lists for friends and relatives. Stumble upon something that would be perfect for someone in you know but that birthday or special event is well into the future? Well, just plop it on their list. I’m hoping my wife figures this out because I drop hints throughout the year which are typically forgotten by the time my b-day comes around! (Which is two days, by the way.)

Click here to start your gift lists!

I occasionally sell books via Amazon.  Amazon reimburses sellers $3.99 to cover the cost of media mail postage.   I typically would weigh the package, determine the postage, affix the appropriate number of stamps, write “Media Mail” on the package then place it in my mail box for pickup.  If the package was too large for my mail box I’d drop it off at the self serve area of my post office before they open in the morning.  In recent months, however, USPS no longer will accept stamped packages that weigh more than 13 ounces unless handed directly to a USPS worker.    I don’t know why, by USPS doesn’t sell Media Mail on-line postage at USPS.Com.  Buy today I found an alternative! Read the rest of this entry »

I often buy from Amazon Marketplace sellers and have always had great experiences until my last order. Beware of the seller named Caiman. I ordered an audio book from them on 10/5. According to Amazon policy the item must ship within two business days. On 10/16 I received confirmation of shipping. When I received the package the shipping box was in fine condition but when I opened it the small audio book box was crushed indicating that it left the warehouse in that condition. I contacted the seller via email and they were quick to send a business reply label so I shipped the item back. Two months later and I haven’t received a refund or new merchandise. I’ve contacted them every week by e-mail (they will not provide me a phone number) only to receive a short email reply indicated I’ll be contacted by the warehouse. So far, no contact.

According to the reviews on Amazon, it seems like 9 out of 10 customers have no issues and typically rate them five stars. However, if a customer doesn’t rate them five starts, they rate them one star! So it is completely hit or miss. For me a major miss!

Back in the seventies, I remember hanging out with my best friend Tim and listening to Dark Side of the Moon.” Tim’s older brother Pat had the vinyl LP of this Pink Floyd classic and we would stay up to the wee hours of the morning, sitting in their bedroom with the lights off listening the album, start to finish, over and over and over. (”That 70’s Show” brings back many of those memories.) Several months ago I was listening to a podcast about obscure music and bumped into a reggae oriented rendition of this classic dubbed, “Dub Side of the Moon.”

What?? That seems blasphemous and un-American. (Oops, Floyd was British.) Anyway, the podcast played a reggae version of “Money“. I thought to myself, “hmmm, that’s kind of interesting.” So…I plopped it on my Amazon wishlist.

Last weekend I found the “CD” while using my free trial credits eMusic. I downloaded all of the tracks and have listened to the entire “album” — start to finish — over and over and over. This “tribute” actually works. It is creative and offers a unique perspective to this great music but yet honors the brilliance of the original band.

Click below to sign up to receive 25 DRM-free, MP3 downloads. Then search for Dub Side of the Moon. You can listen on-line before downloading. You won’t be disappointed.

Prefer Amazon.com?
Dark Side of the Moon 30th Anniversary Edition Pink Floyd
Dub Side of the Moon (Both CD and MP3 available)

My cousin Mike Burgmeier and his wife Becky have created a new line of organic drinks that might interest you. As reported on “Off the Beaten Path“, they have a…

…whole new line of amazing soft drinks that offer a healthy alternative to the processed beverages full of chemicals and other unwanted ingredients currently wreaking havoc in families all across this nation.

The products are available at several Southeastern Wisconsin markets including Outpost Natural Foods. Check out their web-site at Burgie’s Organics. Be sure to check them out!

I’ve been meaning to tell the world of this product for sometime. The Sharper Image PowerTie Motorized Tie Rack is one excellent product! At first I thought it was pricey but I have so many neckties that the weight of them was slowing down my old tie rack to the point that it was unusable.  This unit can be attached to a standard closet rod or a wire closet system.  It is extremely quick and quiet and apparently efficient since I haven’t changed the batteries once in over six months.  An optional AC adapter is available.  I’m glad I didn’t buy it since it really isn’t necessary.  It is available at Amazon.com and Sharper Image.

Last week I stopped in at Verizon since I’m about due for a new phone. Since I’ve been PDAless for a few years, I felt ready to upgrade from my RAZR to a Treo or Q to get PDA functionality. Long story short — I learned I’d need to buy a monthly data plan in order to use one of those phones. Since I only want to sync with my computer, I don’t want or need a data plan. A few months ago a friend mentioned that he used SyncCell with his RAZR. I downloaded and installed the free trial, connected my RAZR via a USB cable and presto, in five minutes my entire Outlook and Calendar are on my phone. Why didn’t I try this earlier? The program can sync via cable or Bluetooth and they offer both on the web-site. I decided to try the Nikon USB cable I use to download photos from my D80.  It even charges the phone! Works like a charm! Well worth the $25.

I was excited to see the newest versions of the Adobe Elements series are now available. I ordered my upgrade to Photoshop Elements 6 and Premiere 4 as soon as I saw them on Amazon. I’ve been using Photoshop Elements since version 1 and Premiere since version 2. I have several thousand photos cataloged in the program and I’ve created around 10 full length DVDs using Premiere. I haven’t received my shipment yet but it appears the two products are more closely integrated. In addition, there appears to be support to create Flash-based interactive web photo albums. I have a project ready and waiting so I’ll post an update after I use the product. Be sure to get the $30 rebate on the bundle. In addition, buy now but keep a copy of the bundle on your wish list or shopping cart for the next 30 days in case Amazon runs a short special. Last year they ran a three day special on the product and since I still had it in my wish list, I received an e-mail stating there was a temporary price decrease. Since I already had purchased, I was issued a credit for the difference!

I heard Leo Laporte talk about twitter on his podcast but didn’t quite get it. Now I understand it but I still don’t “get it”. I have enough of a challenge keeping up on my blogs. Now I can use twitter to microblog from my cell phone? Yikes.

See yesterday’s twitter review on PC mag. Here’s the synopsis from the review:

Bottom Line: Thefirst big microblogging/moblogging site, Twitter boasts the largest
audience among sites of its ilk. But some of the finer points of its
operation, and its help, could stand some improvements in usability.

Pros: The original microblog with the largest audience. Easy to get started.

Cons: Some interface elements unclear, as is the help. No search for posts.

Do you twitter?

Here’s a neat looking product. I spotted it in a camera store the other day and immediately put it on my Amazon.com wish list and dropped a hint to my wife regarding the upcoming Christmas season! Apparently Trek-Tech TrekPod Go it is a combination hiking staff, tripod and monopod. It comes with a special magnetic mount that allows quick attachment and removal of cameras and spotting scopes. I carry one of each when I hike so this would be a great product for me. More details at the Trek-Tech web-site. I have no actual experience with the TrekPod Go!  I’d love to hear from some actual users.