Made by LG (Life’s Good) Colors: white and silver
Total Memory: 3600KB (I’ve only used 1042KB)
Tools: Scheduler, Alarm Clock, Ez Tip Calculator, World Clock, Voice Memo, Notepad,
Comes With: User Manual, Battery, Charger.
A while back, I posted about the process of buying a cell Virgin Mobile cell phone. This “Aloha” is the phone I was buying. It was one of the cheaper phones (14.99, the cheapest being 9.99).
I got this one because it was a “flip” phone. I wish it came on other colors, because I hate white (it shows dirt). However, I have not had that problem so far. I think because it is white and I know it shows dirt, I clean it more often.
It has a color screen, which is a nice size. I have had and seen a few cell phones in my time and I think this phones screen is wider than most. This is because of its shape; it reminds me of a clam (maybe that it way they named it “Aloha”). While I am on the shape if the phone, I want to note that it also makes the keypad bigger (easier for writing text messages).
It can send/receive text messaging to and from any mobile phone/email address and browse the web. It is not that good for web browsing. It loads slow, except when you are using VirginXL to browse (the “homepage” for Virgin Mobile phones, where you find ringtones, wallpapers, etc.) then it loads at a decent speed. There is enough entertaining stuff there, so you are not missing out.
Learning to use it easy enough, the Manual is not much help. Some times it is, like for learning what buttons do what, but not when it came to stuff like the VoiceMail.
It charges fast and holds a charge good (at least mine does). The first charge took about seven hours but after that, the average time for charging is three hours when the battery is dead. There is Four Power Level Bars, when it is down to two and you charge it. It only takes thirty minutes to an hour to get fully charged.
Bummer: It only came with two pre-loaded games ( ZooZooClub & Battle Reversi), you can pay 3.99 a month to play all the games on VirginXL.
The place where you plug in the charger has a little rubber thing you have to take out, which I know I am going to lose eventually. I haven’t yet, but I have “almost” a few times already. This is the one thing I would change about this phone if I could.
So far it has been a good phone, held up to a few drops and still works and nothing rattling inside. I would recommend it to someone looking for a cheap phone that is still useful. Future posts will review some of Virgin Mobiles “plans”.
P.S. New Virgin Mobile cell phones come with Postage-paid bag for you to recycle your old cell phone (Read instructions). If you do (at least for now), you will get a free Charm (I am still waiting for mine).
Monday, April 28, 2008
Carfax.com
When I started my search for a new car, well not “new”, a used car. But it would be new to me. I decided to check out Carfax.com. I was checking out cars at a local auction, the VIN numbers to all the cars were published in the paper about a week in advance. This gave me a chance to get Carfax reports on all the cars I was interested in.
You can check one VIN number for a one-time fee of 24.99, but the best value is the unlimited search option for 29.99. With that option you get an unlimited number for one month.
The reports show how many times the car has been registrar and to who. If there is a discrepancies in the mileage and if the car was in an accident. I learned a lot about the cars I wanted to buy and the ones I already own. since I got the unlimited search option I checked any and all VIN numbers I could. All my friends got a Carfax report on their cars.
I would defiantly use Carfax.com next time I buy a car, I ended up with a great car and avoided a bad car. With the price difference between the two search options, I have no idea why someone would choose the one-search option.
You can check one VIN number for a one-time fee of 24.99, but the best value is the unlimited search option for 29.99. With that option you get an unlimited number for one month.
The reports show how many times the car has been registrar and to who. If there is a discrepancies in the mileage and if the car was in an accident. I learned a lot about the cars I wanted to buy and the ones I already own. since I got the unlimited search option I checked any and all VIN numbers I could. All my friends got a Carfax report on their cars.
I would defiantly use Carfax.com next time I buy a car, I ended up with a great car and avoided a bad car. With the price difference between the two search options, I have no idea why someone would choose the one-search option.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Kona Irish Cream Coffee from Hawaiian Isles Kona Coffee Co.
“smooth and creamy with a hint of chocolate.” 10% Kona coffee
I am not really an Irish cream fan, but I will try almost anything once. I first tried it at full strength and did not really like it. It does not taste like any Irish cream I have ever had, nor did I taste any chocolate. The smell of it brewing was nice and incising however you are disappointed after tasting it. I like other coffees from this company (Kona coffee chocolate macadamia nut), this one just did not do it for me. It had a chemical after taste like it had Nutrasweet or something in it.
This Irish Cream coffee was much better brewed weaker (three- four tablespoons for a 12 cups instead of two tablespoons per two cups of water). It is even better when I mixed it with regular coffee ( one-two tablespoons of regular coffee and one-two of the Irish cream coffee).
Other people that have tried it, liked it. But they are less into the taste of the coffee as I am, and would probably drink anything. I used the whole bag, hoping it would taste better after I had drank it a few times, but it did not.
The bag works good at keeping it fresh. I had this bag in the freezer for a month or so before I opened it (had another bad already open) and it stays good after the bag is open (until the bag was gone). It took me a whole to use it all too, so it was open pretty long, however I am sure proper storage and folding of the bag helped.
I am not really an Irish cream fan, but I will try almost anything once. I first tried it at full strength and did not really like it. It does not taste like any Irish cream I have ever had, nor did I taste any chocolate. The smell of it brewing was nice and incising however you are disappointed after tasting it. I like other coffees from this company (Kona coffee chocolate macadamia nut), this one just did not do it for me. It had a chemical after taste like it had Nutrasweet or something in it.
This Irish Cream coffee was much better brewed weaker (three- four tablespoons for a 12 cups instead of two tablespoons per two cups of water). It is even better when I mixed it with regular coffee ( one-two tablespoons of regular coffee and one-two of the Irish cream coffee).
Other people that have tried it, liked it. But they are less into the taste of the coffee as I am, and would probably drink anything. I used the whole bag, hoping it would taste better after I had drank it a few times, but it did not.
The bag works good at keeping it fresh. I had this bag in the freezer for a month or so before I opened it (had another bad already open) and it stays good after the bag is open (until the bag was gone). It took me a whole to use it all too, so it was open pretty long, however I am sure proper storage and folding of the bag helped.
Domino’s Pizza Box
I order pizza maybe once a month, to give myself a break from cooking. I know that one Domino’s may not be as good as the other, but that is not what this post is about. This last pizza I ordered I noticed something I never have before.
Where the order receipt is on the box (front) there are boxes for the delivery person to check if the pizza is late.
The second to last option is “abduction” with a picture of a UFO. that is hilarious. The next thing I noticed (when I was trashing the box) was on the bottom of the box.
In small letters it says ” Why are you reading this? hope the pizza wasn’t in the box when you flipped it over”, I got a good chuckle out of it. I like that you get a side order of humor with your pizza,lol.
Domino’s should take it to the next level and put different ones on the boxes. It will not be as funny the next time reading the same thing!!
Where the order receipt is on the box (front) there are boxes for the delivery person to check if the pizza is late.
The second to last option is “abduction” with a picture of a UFO. that is hilarious. The next thing I noticed (when I was trashing the box) was on the bottom of the box.
In small letters it says ” Why are you reading this? hope the pizza wasn’t in the box when you flipped it over”, I got a good chuckle out of it. I like that you get a side order of humor with your pizza,lol.
Domino’s should take it to the next level and put different ones on the boxes. It will not be as funny the next time reading the same thing!!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Blue Bunny Sweet Freedom Vanilla Sundae Cone (no sugar added)
Sweetened with Splenda
Six cones in a box.
My in-law is Diabetic, so that is why I would even think about trying something like this. I have never been into “sugar alternatives”, but I guess splenda is on of the better ones.
The amount of sugar that is in it, is from lactose (a naturally occurring sugar in milk). Which, I like. When possible, using something that occurs naturally rather then something (like sugar) processed is good and more food makers should do it.
It starts off like any other “drum stick” style ice cream treat. The chocolate and nut coating tastes normal (good), but when you first taste the ice cream you notice a difference, (at least I did). Once you figure out that it is not going to taste just like sugary ice cream the flavor becomes pleasant. By the end of it I was really digging it.
The cone is okay, it was to soft for me. I like a crisp cone. This one was chewy. It may, have been just that box of cones (I haven’t tried or bought another box). They get bonus points for the amount of chocolate in the bottom tip of the cone though. There is like an inch or more.
If nothing else this product has given me a better impression of Splenda then I had before. And now I may try more things with splenda, rather then not because it has an “sugar alternative”.
Six cones in a box.
My in-law is Diabetic, so that is why I would even think about trying something like this. I have never been into “sugar alternatives”, but I guess splenda is on of the better ones.
The amount of sugar that is in it, is from lactose (a naturally occurring sugar in milk). Which, I like. When possible, using something that occurs naturally rather then something (like sugar) processed is good and more food makers should do it.
It starts off like any other “drum stick” style ice cream treat. The chocolate and nut coating tastes normal (good), but when you first taste the ice cream you notice a difference, (at least I did). Once you figure out that it is not going to taste just like sugary ice cream the flavor becomes pleasant. By the end of it I was really digging it.
The cone is okay, it was to soft for me. I like a crisp cone. This one was chewy. It may, have been just that box of cones (I haven’t tried or bought another box). They get bonus points for the amount of chocolate in the bottom tip of the cone though. There is like an inch or more.
If nothing else this product has given me a better impression of Splenda then I had before. And now I may try more things with splenda, rather then not because it has an “sugar alternative”.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Oral-B Vitality Toothbrush
I had to buy this Oral-B Vitality toothbrush so I could use my UV sanitizer that I got from BzzAgent.com.
I do not like the tiny round head (FexiSoft) it feels weird. I gave it a fair chance and used it for a while before deciding I hated it. I brush my tongue as well as my teeth (for fresh breath), and this FlexiSoft head just does not work on the tongue. I just have a good old fashion manual tooth brush for that.
AT, least the base of this toothbrush can take a few different heads. I have not tried any of the other ones, yet, but I will eventually.
The base is bigger than my old Oral-B, and it took me a while to get used to it. I still do not like it but I am used to it.
I read in the booklet that “you may feel it get stronger as you use it”, they say it builds up so your teeth can get used to it, but I say it just drains more of the battery. It has a timer, so it pluses when two minutes have passed, again this feature seems to just drain the battery. I have had other toothbrushes with timer and they just turned off after two minutes (less energy). I like the fact that it is rechargeable, but the charge does not last very long. It seems to get shorter every time I have charged the battery.
Setting it up to charge it easy, just plug it the charger and put the toothbrush base on it. I have left the charger plugged in without the base on it to see if it got hot. I was happy to see it didn’t get hot anywhere on the charger, I felt EVERYWHERE because I have a fear of house fires so things like that are important to me. I still would not recommend leaving it plugged in.
It takes about seven hours or more to fully charge this monster. The rechargeable toothbrush I had before this one charged in three hours.
The on and off switches have held up so far, and are easy to function.
I do not like the tiny round head (FexiSoft) it feels weird. I gave it a fair chance and used it for a while before deciding I hated it. I brush my tongue as well as my teeth (for fresh breath), and this FlexiSoft head just does not work on the tongue. I just have a good old fashion manual tooth brush for that.
AT, least the base of this toothbrush can take a few different heads. I have not tried any of the other ones, yet, but I will eventually.
The base is bigger than my old Oral-B, and it took me a while to get used to it. I still do not like it but I am used to it.
I read in the booklet that “you may feel it get stronger as you use it”, they say it builds up so your teeth can get used to it, but I say it just drains more of the battery. It has a timer, so it pluses when two minutes have passed, again this feature seems to just drain the battery. I have had other toothbrushes with timer and they just turned off after two minutes (less energy). I like the fact that it is rechargeable, but the charge does not last very long. It seems to get shorter every time I have charged the battery.
Setting it up to charge it easy, just plug it the charger and put the toothbrush base on it. I have left the charger plugged in without the base on it to see if it got hot. I was happy to see it didn’t get hot anywhere on the charger, I felt EVERYWHERE because I have a fear of house fires so things like that are important to me. I still would not recommend leaving it plugged in.
It takes about seven hours or more to fully charge this monster. The rechargeable toothbrush I had before this one charged in three hours.
The on and off switches have held up so far, and are easy to function.
H&R Block’s Free Online Federal Edition
I have always had reservations about filing taxes online for safety reasons. However, this year I though I would give it a try.
Honestly, I was filing someone else’s taxes for them; let them take the risk, lol. I checked out some of the other companies that offered a free federal edition. I figured I could use a different each year until I have gone through them all and I started with H&R Block.
It is simple to set up your account, and get started with your return. I have done it the old fashion way and did not need much instructions. However I checked out what was available. Every time there was a “help” or “explain” I read it and they were good. Even a first time do-it-your-self- filer could easily get through it with worrying about going to jail, as long as you can follow written directions and know to use the helps when you are unsure. You can always come back to a half done return if you need to get information or paperwork to complete your return (just remember your login information).
You must do one last step when filing online that is necessary and if not done within a set time limit you could have to pay penalties. You must send the IRS a piece of paper with your signature on it. You will get that piece of paper in about two to three days. They do not make it clear at the beginning that you will need to print out a form at the end of the process.
The think it is cheesy of them to charge you for the state version (which you can do free on your state’s website). You do not have to buy it, but I bet many people do because they figure “I am here, why not?”.
Overall, the experience was good, the refund came quickly (through the mail, not direct deposit, which would have been faster), and I would use them again.
Links to some State’s Taxation and Revenue Departments:
http://www.rev.state.la.us/- Louisiana
http://www.state.hi.us/tax/ -Hawaii
http://www.tax.state.nm.us/- New Mexico
http://www.tax.state.ny.us/ -New York
http://www.state.me.us/revenue/-Maine
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/-Virginia
http://tax.idaho.gov/index.html-Idaho
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/-New Jersey
http://www.ksrevenue.org/taxation.htm-Kansas
http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/Revenue.html-South Dakota
http://www.sctax.org/default.htm-South Carolina
http://www.revenue.state.co.us/tps_dir/home.asp-Colorado
http://tax.ohio.gov/-Ohio
http://dor.wa.gov/Content/Home/Default.aspx-Washington
Honestly, I was filing someone else’s taxes for them; let them take the risk, lol. I checked out some of the other companies that offered a free federal edition. I figured I could use a different each year until I have gone through them all and I started with H&R Block.
It is simple to set up your account, and get started with your return. I have done it the old fashion way and did not need much instructions. However I checked out what was available. Every time there was a “help” or “explain” I read it and they were good. Even a first time do-it-your-self- filer could easily get through it with worrying about going to jail, as long as you can follow written directions and know to use the helps when you are unsure. You can always come back to a half done return if you need to get information or paperwork to complete your return (just remember your login information).
You must do one last step when filing online that is necessary and if not done within a set time limit you could have to pay penalties. You must send the IRS a piece of paper with your signature on it. You will get that piece of paper in about two to three days. They do not make it clear at the beginning that you will need to print out a form at the end of the process.
The think it is cheesy of them to charge you for the state version (which you can do free on your state’s website). You do not have to buy it, but I bet many people do because they figure “I am here, why not?”.
Overall, the experience was good, the refund came quickly (through the mail, not direct deposit, which would have been faster), and I would use them again.
Links to some State’s Taxation and Revenue Departments:
http://www.rev.state.la.us/- Louisiana
http://www.state.hi.us/tax/ -Hawaii
http://www.tax.state.nm.us/- New Mexico
http://www.tax.state.ny.us/ -New York
http://www.state.me.us/revenue/-Maine
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/-Virginia
http://tax.idaho.gov/index.html-Idaho
http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/-New Jersey
http://www.ksrevenue.org/taxation.htm-Kansas
http://www.state.sd.us/drr2/Revenue.html-South Dakota
http://www.sctax.org/default.htm-South Carolina
http://www.revenue.state.co.us/tps_dir/home.asp-Colorado
http://tax.ohio.gov/-Ohio
http://dor.wa.gov/Content/Home/Default.aspx-Washington
Fiber One-Carmel Delight by General Mill’s
9 grams of fiber
180 calories
3 grams of protein
Whole grain wheat, sugar, corn bran, chicory root extract, maltodextrin, rice bran and/or canola oil, fructose, salt, dextrose, trisodium phosphate, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavors, BHT added to preserve freshness
The little squares remind me of Chex cereal (but way smaller), I do not really like the size (since I mentioned it). Normally I like small things; it makes me feel like a giant, lol. But they are too small to get a good chew on, which kind of makes you want to eat more than you would normally.
I really like the taste of this Carmel Delight flavor, it is just like a Werther’s Carmel Chewy candy with a crunchy texture. No wonder it does, if you read the ingredients listed above, you will see that sugar is listed second. What kind of ‘healthy’ food has sugar as the second ingredient? None. If it really is good for you, sugar wouldn’t be in it. In addition, what is up with this “and/or” stuff? Rice bran and/or canola oil, why would those two things be together in an “and/or” situation? I have no answer for that one. Yeah, it has a good amount of fiber per serving, but that does not make up for the sugar to justify eating it everyday. It makes a great dessert!
I like that the box is made of recycled paper (if it really is), the big companies should be leading the way in the green revolution. Give General Mill’s a gold star on their moral score card, lol.
I was thinking of sending them my “comments” of this cereal to see if they send coupons or samples. If I do, I will write a post about what happens.
180 calories
3 grams of protein
Whole grain wheat, sugar, corn bran, chicory root extract, maltodextrin, rice bran and/or canola oil, fructose, salt, dextrose, trisodium phosphate, soy lecithin, natural and artificial flavors, BHT added to preserve freshness
The little squares remind me of Chex cereal (but way smaller), I do not really like the size (since I mentioned it). Normally I like small things; it makes me feel like a giant, lol. But they are too small to get a good chew on, which kind of makes you want to eat more than you would normally.
I really like the taste of this Carmel Delight flavor, it is just like a Werther’s Carmel Chewy candy with a crunchy texture. No wonder it does, if you read the ingredients listed above, you will see that sugar is listed second. What kind of ‘healthy’ food has sugar as the second ingredient? None. If it really is good for you, sugar wouldn’t be in it. In addition, what is up with this “and/or” stuff? Rice bran and/or canola oil, why would those two things be together in an “and/or” situation? I have no answer for that one. Yeah, it has a good amount of fiber per serving, but that does not make up for the sugar to justify eating it everyday. It makes a great dessert!
I like that the box is made of recycled paper (if it really is), the big companies should be leading the way in the green revolution. Give General Mill’s a gold star on their moral score card, lol.
I was thinking of sending them my “comments” of this cereal to see if they send coupons or samples. If I do, I will write a post about what happens.
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