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Archive for November 20th, 2008

Clop, clop, klip clop

November 20th, 2008

The Asics running tights and Brooks top were keeping me warm enough, yet not too much with another thin long sleeve TShirt.  It felt a little colder than the first run which was around 50 degrees F.  Its darker much earlier and I’m not used to seeing so many other runners in Central Park this far after sunset.

Past the first hill, I’m breathing really hard, but otherwise feeling great.  I think its about 45F, since I’m not sweating at all and I don’t see my breath.   Down the hill now and things are starting to fall into sync.  Not having run enough the last month, I convince myself to take it easy.

Ahead of me I hear some horses, and they are majestic, with their loud hoof beats and nostril flares of white smoke blowing out in front of them.  Its a couple of New York’s Finest and one of them are trying to get his horse to go into a gallop.

I can’t resist the urge and I run faster.  The trailing rider and her horse reluctantly speed up here and there, just enough to make it interesting for me, as if they know I’m trying to catch up.  I run with them for a quarter mile or so.  The hoof beats are thunderous now – I try to entrain to their beat.  The two horses are not quite in sync and I can’t quite ‘feel’ the rhythm.

Out of breathe as they take the turnoff, I slow down near the south end of The Lake and I am pleased.  To turn back or keep going now?  I decide its not that cold after all and keep going down to Columbus Circle.  As I hit that last hill near Sheep’s Meadow, I see that its 29F – I was totally off about the temperature.  The way back home was more quiet and cold without my 4 legged running partners.

Uncategorized, personal

Magic Jack

November 20th, 2008

Not entirely sure why I stopped in the Radio Shack and purchased this, but lately been in a more spontaneous mood – and I guess I wanted to test this device out for quality.  I know that the math adds up.  $40 for the device and first year of service, and $20 more per year for unlimited domestic phone usage.

It’s a little device that plugs into the USB port on your XP or Vista computer and on the other end you plug in a standard phone.  Takes about 5 minutes to load the software and register, and you choose a new phone number and then can make unlimited calls.

So far it works really well.  In my opinion its not quite rock solid like an old landline, but its very good voice quality, and there is some latency, but not too long.  If it didn’t work out for me I was thinking of sending this off to a relative so that they can keep in touch with their parents in another state for cheap.

On the packaging it states that you can use this in other countries, and your callers will appear to call you in whichever area code you choose when you register.  The Magic Jack is available at many Radio Shacks or you can order online.  I’ll review more later on after using it for about a month.

Gadget , , ,