Use Foursquare to Get Your Ass in Shape

I recently got some friends to join me on Foursquare and I'm not gonna lie - things are getting pretty cut throat. If you're unfamiliar with Foursquare, it's basically a location-based social network in which users claim their turf by checking in at venues to earn badges and mayorships. It's a lot of fun, but I have an issue with getting my friends to join - no it has nothing to do with with privacy - it's that we tend to frequent the same spots, so I find myself defending my hard-earned mayorships (eight and counting). But then it dawned on me. I could actually use the competition to my advantage - at the gym.


I'm going to be totally honest. I hate going to the gym. I'll look for any reason not to work out - but right now I'm the mayor of American Physique and I know my best friend is out to steal my title.  Just knowing she's there, checking in with that smug look on her face is enough to get me off my lazy ass and onto the elliptical. Call me a geek all you like. Spring is just around the corner. It's time to shed that winter weight and transform into a fit geek.


So there you have it. Invite your gym buddies to join Foursquare and you've got a way to hold yourself accountable. 


Has social media affected your fitness routine at all? Let's hear about it in the comments!


Joe Says: While Foursquare is currently the leader of pack, it's just one of a number of location-based networks available on mobile devices. Be sure to also check out Gowalla, Brightkite, Loopt, and others before settling in. Each network has its own style and feature set. 



This is Joe, signing off.

Declutter Your Living Space: CDs and LPs

We're at a point in the digital age where we really don't ever need to use CDs or LPs ever again. Ever. Yet, many of us still line our shelves with jewel cases or keep our records packed away in boxes. The truth is, once the music is imported to a computer or portable music player, the original disc is kinda useless. So why do so many of us choose to hold onto them? Do we want something tangible to justify the purchase? Do we like to show off our massive music collections? Do we all just have pack rat mentality? Whatever the reason, it's not good enough. It's time to declutter and make the move to digital!

Import your CDs

If you have a portable music player (like an iPod), you likely use a computer application (like iTunes) to manage your music. However, you've probably only imported your favorite CDs and downloaded the rest of your music from the iTunes Store (or *ahem* some other not-so-legal method). Why not just go the extra mile and import everything?

Try this. Every day while you're at your computer, pop in a CD and import it to your digital music library. As you import the CDs put them into a box. Once the box is full, sell it on eBay or at a yard sale. If selling the CDs is too much of a hassle (I know, I know - all of that importing was exhausting) then donate it. As one reader pointed out, it's not exactly legal to play the imported music once the discs are sold. Good catch! Thanks Sepp!

The great thing about using a digital media application like iTunes (or my personal fave, DoubleTwist) is that the album artwork is often downloaded for you automatically- that is, unless you're importing off a homemade mix CD - then you're out of luck.

Import your LPs too

Believe it or not, you can also import your LPs by using a USB turntable (for an option under $65, check out the Ion TTUSB Turntable). However, importing vinyl requires a bit more work. You have to actually play the LPs in order to record them. That means an LP with one hour's worth of music is going to take at least an hour to import. Depending on how much you love your music library, this process could be either a) fun or b) tedious. Also, your digital media application (like iTunes) is likely not smart enough to match the tracks up with the original album data, like artwork and song titles. That means you're going to have to add all of that manually.

Once you import your records, box them up and sell them. While you're at it, sell the USB turntable - you won't be needing it anymore.

Back it up!

Now for some damage control. Once you've imported all of your music to your computer or iPod, you definitely want to have a backup solution in case your hard drive were to ever crash or get corrupted. I highly recommend purchasing an external hard drive that does routine backups of your digital music library (for a solution under $100, check out the LaCie 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive).

Joe Says: Before jumping the gun and selling everything, you probably want to make sure you aren't letting go of any collector's items (particularly those vinyls). When in doubt, get it appraised. If by chance you discover that you're rich, please feel free to share the wealth.

This is Joe, signing off.

Declutter Your Living Space: Old Video Games

Whether you're a hardcore video game fanatic or a casual gamer, you've probably accumulated some hardware over the years. Maybe you still play it. Maybe it's packed away in your closet. Whatever the scenario, there's a space-saving alternative:  Nintendo Wii's Virtual Console.

The Virtual Console allows Nintendo Wii owners to download their favorite games on a variety of platforms including NES, SNES, Nintendo 64, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis, Turbo Grafx 16, Neo Geo and even Commodore 64! So instead of holding onto the original consoles and games, you can maintain your library in digital format.

The catch: In order to download the games you already own, you'll need to purchase them again ($5-$10 each). Why would you pay for a game you already own? Keep reading...

Download only the games you REALLY want.
Of all of the games you've collected over the years, how many do you play on a regular basis? How many have you played in the past year? Five years? If your answer is none or not many, you probably don't want to download them again as you won't miss them. You'll always have the option to download them later if you so choose. Note: Keep in mind, not all of your classic games may be available on the Virtual Console...yet. The database is constantly growing as Nintendo adds new games every week. Keep an eye out and your favorite will likely pop up.

Recoup your money. Sell the old stuff.
Seriously. This is your opportunity to break even or even make money on the deal. There are people out there who want to buy your old games. Ebay and Craigslist are your best bets for making a sale. As a point of reference, I sold my Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, Genesis, and Gamecube (the Nintendo Wii supports GameCube discs) for around $300. While that amount doesn't come close to what I originally paid for all of those games,  I barely played any of them anymore - they were just sitting around collecting dust and depreciating in value. In the end, I had enough money to download my favorites from the Virtual Console with some cool cash left over... and room to breathe.

Joe Says: If you decide against selling your old stuff, please do not discard it in the trash. Donate it to charity or drop it off at a recycling center.

This is Joe, signing off.

Google Wave Invite Giveaway: Part Deux!

If you've still been unsuccessful in scoring a Google Wave invite, I have some good news for you - JoeSaidSo.com has TEN more invites to give away! To snag one, here's all you have to do:

1) Log into JoeSaidSo.com using the Google Friend Connect feature on the bottom of the page.
2) Leave a comment on this blog post!

UPDATE: Remember that there are two parts to requesting an invite. You need to sign in via Google Friend Connect AND leave a comment.

There are only ten up for grabs so act fast! :)



Joe Says: When you leave your comment, be sure to include your email address or a way for me to contact you.

This is Joe, signing off.

Turn Your Gadget into a Meditation Device with Podcasts and Apps!

Like many people my age, I suffer from general anxiety. Blame it on the fast-paced information age. Blame it on overstimulation. Blame it on genetics. Whatever the reason, it sucks. Despite my pro-technology approach to everyday life, I'm not going to lie; modern technology can certainly magnify the problem. On a typical day, I stare at a computer with ten to fifteen browser tabs open, an RSS reader packed with hundreds of news articles, a lifestreaming app displaying real-time activity on various social networks, and an instant messaging client with conversations with friends on a dozen different networks.
 
I feel short of breath just thinking about it.

Luckily, just as gadgets have the power to intensify anxiety, they can also help relieve tension and clear the mind. In my pursuit to "chill out" (doctor's orders), I've come across some really great meditation tools - most of which are FREE.

PODCASTS
The great thing about podcasts is that they're available on pretty much any device that can play music. Meditation podcasts usually offer ambient sounds and a soothing instructor to guide you through various relaxation exercises.  Once you subscribe to a particular podcast, new episodes can be automatically downloaded (or queued) to your device, saving you precious time and energy. 

iPhone and iPod users are in luck because iTunes has a pretty extensive library of free meditation podcasts. Blackberry and Windows Mobile users can subscribe to various podcasts using Viigo (a free app), and Android users should definitely check out the Google Listen app (also free). You can also play podcasts directly on your computer, but I recommend finding a nice, quiet spot where you can listen uninterrupted. (When the weather is nice, I like to take my iPod and meditate at the pier.)

DEDICATED MOBILE APPS
Podcasts are great for meditating with your eyes closed but sometimes it's nice to have some visual stimulation. I recently purchased a Motorola DROID and one of my absolute favorite applications is Meditation Words. The app simply guides the user through controlled breathing exercises by displaying various words or phrases on the screen. What really makes Meditation Words stand out is that it even allows the user to set the breathing pace! It is available for free in the Android Market.

iZen Garden is another great app. Available for the iPhone/iPod Touch, iZen Garden opens with a daily zen quote and then allows the user to play in a virtual zen garden while listening to soothing sounds (like wind chimes!). It's truly a beautiful experience. iZen Garden Lite is free while the full version will set you back a few bucks ($2.99 to be exact).


Meditation Words and iZen Garden are only two examples of a number of mobile applications that are available to support your health and well-being. Check out your mobile app store to see what's available for your particular device. As mobile application development continues to skyrocket, let's hope we see more apps like these pop up in the near future!


So how about you? Have you ever used a gadget as a meditation device? Have you made any interesting discoveries? Let's hear about it!

Joe Says:  While I've chosen to highlight ways we can use modern technology to relieve stress, this post is not intended as medical advice. If you do suffer from anxiety, be sure to consult a physician.

Oh, and by the way, if you're anything like me and you work consistently at a computer, remember to take a break every hour. Get up and walk around. Drink some water. Get some fresh air. Interact with people in (GASP) real life. Besides, your gadgets need rest too ;)

This is Joe, signing off.