Monday, June 16, 2008

The iPod Case

2011 EDIT: Looks like Q1AP is no longer in business... too bad, so sad!

Ok, let's get it out there in the open: iPods are made in China, and until the press found out about it (here's a link to a mirror of the first article), they were made by people getting paid next to nothing, and in less than ideal working conditions, to say the least. However, Apple has (apparently) turned over a new leaf, and claims to be "dedicated to ensuring that working conditions are safe and employees are treated with respect and dignity wherever Apple products are made." - scary that a company even has to SAY that.

So, all that said, I own an iPod - an 80GB Video - I bought one used for $50, and I like it. The day I got it, I realized that I needed a case for it, since it travels with me all day long in my backpack. So I set out on an iJourney to find a good iPod case that was Made in USA.

After a little digging, I found the iArmor, Made in California by A1 Quality Products. They're machined out of aluminum, and anodized... and they aren't bulky, aren't heavy, and you didn't need a special tool to put it on, as it's held together with magnets. So I called them up, and had a great talk with Joe Davis, the owner of A1QP, about the iArmor, and about the kind of stuff I write about here, and we have very similar philosophies, which was great to hear! So after telling him which iPod I had, he got to work, and BOOM, my iArmor arrived!



The iArmor is aptly named - although I wouldn't want to drive over my iPod with my car, I apparently could, as A1QP's website has video of (not recommended, obviously). It comes with a hard plastic screen protector, a click wheel protector, and obviously, the anodized aluminum cover. There's a thin rubber material inside to help with shock absortion as well. I've had mine for a couple of months already, and besides my iPod obviously functioning perfectly, the case still looks good as new.

And for you iPhone nuts (which I hope to be someday), A1 Quality Products makes iArmor for iPhones, as well as cases for some older Nano and Shuffle iPods.

And on related note, look for a future post on headphones for an iPod... as soon as I can scrape some money together, I've got my eye on a killer pair!

Friday, June 13, 2008

The Pliers

It's widely known that humans aren't the only species that use tools (Joshua Klein's TED talk about crows using tools, and there's always cute sea otters breaking shells open with rocks, amongst a slew of others). However, we certainly have the coolest ones. And with that said, this is my first of many entries showcasing a tool.

While searching for some pliers for electrical work, I came across a few companies out there - Wiha, Knipex, Klein, and Channellock, to name a few. These all are great products, however I ended up picking up a set of Knipex precision electrical pliers. But you can't go wrong with any of the above.



They're made in Germany, and are as fine of a hand tool as you can purchase. Although they're a little on the pricey side, my mentality when buying tools (especially hand tools) is that, unless I lose it, this is the LAST one I'll ever need to buy. And, heck, I like things that are made in Germany.

I also went with the ESD version, which means you're protected against electrostatic buildup which electrical components can have... although I wouldn't recommend futzing with electrical components unless you know what you're doing!

I purchased mine from ChadsToolBox.com - they seemed to have the best prices and an a good selection too. They had to ship from Germany first, but considering these should last me a lifetime, I was ok with the wait.

Good luck, and happy... pinching?

Monday, April 7, 2008

The tea kettle.

My old CorningWare tea kettle broke this past winter. I was bummed, as it was passed down to me from my mom. But, as the old saying goes, "when one teapot stops boiling, another one starts"... or something like that.

After several discouraging trips to stores around Chicago, I found out that it's harder to get an old-school tea kettle that's made in the US or Europe... but leave it to my mom to make her picky son happy. Under the Christmas tree this year for me was a brand new tea kettle - called "La Théière" - made in France, by Staub.



This tea kettle works as well as it looks - awesome. It holds 1 quart - enough for 3 cups of tea, or one standard-size French-press - in other words, at least for me, it's the perfect size. It's made out of cast iron, which is then coated in enamel, making it durable and long-lasting - and it doesn't look half bad either. The enamel color is "Grenadine" - a really nice deep red/burgundy. The two stainless steel handles come together to lock the lid into place, so you don't need to worry about holding a lid when pouring hot water. And finally, it comes with a removable large tea infusion ball - large enough for steeping the above-mentioned 3 cups of tea, and can be kept in a drawer if you rarely use it.

If you're in the need of a new tea kettle, and end up with this, or any other cast iron pot, be sure to read up on how to care for cast iron cooking ware - it's easy to care for them and preserve them for years (and years) to come.

I couldn't be more happy with my La Théière tea kettle, and hope this will be the last one I'll ever need. Thanks Mom!

More on tea later - it's a big part of my daily routines, and deserves more than a mention in a post!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

The pocket knife.

There are two things that I EDC (which stands for Every Day Carry) besides my keys, wallet and phone: a flashlight and a pocket knife.

The flashlight writeup will come sometime down the road, but here's my pocket knife. (I felt a little weird taking a picture of a knife, so I just took a picture of it clipped to my pocket):



It's a Benchmade Mini Griptilian - an incredibly sturdy and tough knife. It's big enough to get a good grip on it, but small enough to fit in your pocket and not really feel it. It stays clipped inside my pocket, as shown, every single day of the year. The clip has takin' a beating, but that's what I like to call "character marks".

I admit that I mostly use it to open and break-down boxes at work, but it also comes in handy surprisingly often, in a variety of situations - mostly other people asking to borrow it! (same goes with a flashlight - they think it's goofy I carry one, but the same person usually will ask to borrow it to look under their desk the very next day).

Benchmade knives are mostly Made in USA, although some are imported. They have several product classes (coded by color), which correspond to price, materials, build quality, and country of origin. The Mini Griptilian belongs to the Blue Class, which are Made in USA. Their website says if a knife is made in the US or not, so check there before buying! (although go elsewhere to purchase it for much less!)

The Mini-Grip can be had for $56 from New Graham Knives - I recommend getting the ComboEdge version, which has a serrated portion of the blade, for cutting rope, twine, and other materials that benefit from such a cut. New Graham is a great company - awesome customer service, follow-up, and will most certainly help you find a knife to your likings.

Good luck, be safe, and check your state and city's knife laws before you start EDC'ing a pocket knife.

Friday, March 14, 2008

The Band Aid.

I was at Walgreens the other week, buying medicine - for my cat - and remembered that I was out of band aids. While I was waiting for my cat's prescription to be filled, I ran over to the first aid section, grabbed the Band-Aid brand box, flipped it over, and to my surprise: Made in China.

Hesitantly, I grabbed a Walgreens-brand "Adhesive Bandages", and even more so to my surprise, a big ol' "Made in USA" is on them! Who'd have thought that a brand like Band-Aid would be made in China, and the generic stuff would be made in USA?



So, for your first aid needs, The Ethical Shopper recommends: Walgreens Flexible Fabric Adhesive Bandages. $2.99 for 36 of 'em. They're awesome - flexible, breatheable, and durable. And for you rough'n'tough types, they're even available in a "Strong-Strips" version, which is even more durable.

I never would've dreamed that a household name like Band-Aid would rub salt in my (ethical) wound. (sorry, couldn't resist).

Sunday, March 9, 2008

The ukulele.

A while back, I thought I'd pick up a new instrument to play in my band.. a ukulele! The Uke has a long awesome history, and since it's a Hawaiian instrument, I thought I'd research Ukes made in Hawaii.

I found a few different brands that were Hawaiian-made:
Kamaka
KoAloha
Maui Music Ukulele (no website)
...as well as some custom builders ($$)

I ended up buying a KoAloha Concert Pikake from the Old Town School of Folk's music store called the Different Strummer - an awesome music shop with a knowledgeable, helpful, and really nice staff. The Concert Pikake is now discontinued, but you can still buy the regular Concert-sized uke.



It's a beautiful instrument made of Hawaii's local Koa wood. It's got a very natural and well-rounded sound, with a lot of punch when you need it. Learning the Uke was a breeze - it never ceases to be fun.

While your local music store is the best place to check out an instrument, you can also buy the above brands direct from their websites, or go to Ukes.com to check out all of 'em! They have a discussion forum as well, which is handy, considering they have so many brands.

Either way, go buy a Hawaiian-made Uke!

Saturday, March 8, 2008

The bike helmet.

I checked out a new bike shop here in Chicago called Roscoe Village Bikes, (a really great little shop - they have an awesome dog named Buddy in the shop!). The owners, Alex and Leslie, were great - super helpful and knowledgeable.

They carry a brand of helmets called Uvex, who makes most of their helmets in Germany! Although I wasn't in need of a new helmet just yet, just out of curiosity, I tried on a Uvex helmet - the Boss Race model. I have a narrower head, and helmets tend to fit very uncomfortably - leaving a ton of room on the sides of my head, and creating a lot of pressure on the front and back. But, to my surprise, the Boss Race felt GREAT! It fit my narrow head really well, was really adjustable and well-padded, and was venty. I special ordered a white colored version, and a few days later, picked it up!



Uvex helmets have slots where you can put on a rear blinking light and two front blinking lights (also made in Germany) - they're awesome!

Visit the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute - a great resource on bicycle helmets - plus, they say WHERE most helmets are made! Randy is a super knowledgeable and nice guy.

That's that!