PJ Trader

It’s been awhile since I’ve gotten a new tech gadget, but there’s now a new one in the house that actually belongs to ME!  (The last two purchases, a Barnes and Noble Nook e-reader and the iPhone4 went to The Bob.)

I use an aircard to connect my netbook to the web during the day while I’m at work.  The government blocks many internet sites (and not just the porn ones) and my radio reception is spotty, so I like to hook up to a streaming music station like XM Radio Online and listen while I work.  I’ve been using a Novatel USB727 with Verizon, but lately their service has been pretty spotty and I’m not getting a good signal anymore.

So I bought a Sprint MiFi off eBay, figuring to go and activate it on a month-to-month agreement.  That was my first problem.  Sprint apparently doesn’t care that I didn’t buy the MiFi off them, and wanted me to lock into a two year service contract, with an early termination fee (ETF) if I wanted out before the contract’s end date.

Normally, companies require the ETF because you buy the equipment at a substantially subsidized price.  This makes sure you’re not going to try to get out of the contract after two or three months and make off with an expensive electronic that they have mostly paid for.  But when you bring your own gadget, why should you have to lock into a two year contract or pay an ETF? 

After a half-hour on the phone with Customer Service, apparently a service rep agreed with me, and supposedly my account now authorizes me to go month-to-month.  We’ll see.

But back to the MiFi.  One of the reasons I wanted to switch from the USB modem was because it is tied to one machine and nothing else can use it.  With so many devices now capable of wi-fi, it would be nice to be able to use the air card bandwidth on more devices.  The MiFi is capable of having up to five devices hooked into it at one time, all using the bandwidth.  It does this by converting the cellular broadband to a wifi signal, so any device that uses wifi can use the MiFi.

So, for example, right now I’m using the netbook to type up this blog post while the iPhone is grabbing bandwidth from the MiFi to play me some Pandora.  (If you’re wondering why I don’t just use the unlimited data from AT&T to run Pandora, the answer is because the signal in my office isn’t very good unless I put the device on top of my desk cabinets, which means I can’t hear the music.  The air card, however, is sitting on top of the cabinets to get the best signal.)

Overall, the multiple device capability is nice.  The drawback though, is that the MiFi’s battery is only 4 hours, although plugging it into an external power source all day works well as long as you’re not mobile.  The USB modem never had a power issue, since it was plugged into a computer all the time.

The MiFi starts broadcasting it’s wifi signal as soon as you turn it on and generally all you have to do is use your device’s own software to find the signal and connect to it.  I have mine locked down with WPA2 security, so only people I authorize can use the signal, just like my home router.  I can’t afford anyone using my bandwidth, with the monthly cap of 5GB the data plan allows.  I need it all!

The one issue I do have is the inability to read the actual signal strength.  With the Verizon Access Manager, I could hover over the signal bars and get an actual reading of how many dbs I was getting.  The Sprint application, which is accessible via web browser pointing to the MiFi – no software installation required – only shows bars, no actual signal strength, so I’m not sure how the signal is actually comparing to Verizon’s in the exact same location.

There are a couple of other annoyances.  One is that I have trouble figuring out if the thing is actually on or not.  There is a power light, a light on the Sprint logo and some other lights on the thing.  I disabled the LEDs in the software panel, thinking it would save battery power, but that was even worse.  So I turned it back on and will have to look up in the book what the various indicator lights are supposed to mean.  The other is that the device gets a little warm during use.  Both of these are minor, and I’ll probably forget about them by next week.

So far, I like it.  Will I dump the USB modem for the MiFi at the end of the 30 day trial period?  We’ll see.

I’m getting ready to head off for a week away from home, attending the Romance Writers of America’s National Conference.  For business (and yes, I consider this a business) trips, I always take a look at what will be going on and then planning my clothes for each day.

The theory behind planning a wardrobe is pretty simple:  I don’t want to take a bunch of stuff I don’t need.  Once you’ve hauled uniforms, civilian clothes, boots, shoes, sleeping bags, and chem gear around the world, you learn pretty quick that there’s only so much one girl can handle.  (There weren’t any luggage carts in the desert, as I recall.)

So I try to plan a wardrobe of mix and match pieces that can be worn a couple of times before hitting the laundry (unless I spill, which inevitably happens).  Personally, I’ve never been able to pack for two weeks in a carryon, as many bloggers suggest.  I’d rather be comfortable than skimp.  (Plus, I’m flying Southwest, who still doesn’t charge for checking up to two bags!)

The key to packing light is, of course, planning outfits that reuse pieces.  If you don’t care if you wear the same jacket four days in a row, you’re a better woman than I, because I prefer to take two jackets (which also act as sweaters in cold meeting rooms), at least 3 tops for under the jackets and two or three pairs of pants/skirts.

This conference presents extra packing challenges.  At a “real” business conference I’d expect to maybe find some dinner and then spend the rest of the time in my room, chilling out.  This trip involves social events, which may be particularly dressy, or may be more casual.  And we’re going to be at a resort hotel at a theme park – so park clothes are also needed.

See why I plan?  It would be so easy to just throw clothes in the suitcase that don’t go together or won’t be needed.

Next, I have to figure out what electronic gear is required.  Yikes!

Do you plan your packing?  Do you think you’re smarter than those women who end up packing six pairs of shoes they don’t need?

I’m all for saving money to buy big purchases. My own accounting system is a bit convoluted, involving hiding money in my check register in order to pay the car insurance, life insurance and other big bills when they come due. Out of sight, out of mind concept.

Some people use a real piggy bank, but the temptation to “rob” the bank is often just too tempting. You could set up a local savings account at your bank, but sometimes having your money even that close is a little too much to hide from.

Enter SmartyPig.com. It’s an online piggy bank! This is a free, FDIC insured online bank account that allows you to set savings goals, deposit money into the account via scheduled transfers from your own bank, and even lets you accept contributions to your goal from family and friends! You set a savings goal, anywhere from $250 to $250,000 and deposit a minimum of $25 to start saving towards that goal.
Set up an automatic deposit from your own bank accounts, and SmartyPig will keep track of your savings, automatically stopping the deposit when you’ve reached your goal. Plus, your account earns interest at a rate that is higher than most other banks.

SmartyPig has some other interesting options – you can cash in your savings via a transfer back to your own bank account, or take the savings via a Mastercard debit card preloaded with your amount. Or, cash your savings in and apply it to a gift card from Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers, and earn up to a 12% premium (typically 2-5%), earning even more for your hard-earned bucks.

According to their FAQs, the banks that operates SmartyPig is West Bank, a 115-year-old, wholly owned subsidiary of the publicly traded financial holding company, West Bancorporation (NASDAQ: WTBA).

Now, you might be wondering “who needs this?” I can think of a few people…writers saving up their money to attend a conference, for example. Kids who are more computer saavy that we were at their age, who give Grandma and Grandpa an easy way to contribute to a college fund. I wonder…maybe I should try this to save for a new car?

The Bob and I went out for some summer entertainment this weekend.  Although the new Toy Story 3 movie was as strong contender, we opted for the A-Team movie instead. 

I have fond memories of the 1980’s series produced by Stephen Cannell, right along with The Greatest American Hero, Hardcastle and McCormick, The Rockford Files, and even Baa Baa Black Sheep (aka Black Sheep Squadron).  Ah, now those were the days of  must-see TV!

I wasn’t expecting anything other than a lot of action (some of which might make absolutely no sense), and a rollicking good time.  The movie delivered that in spades, along with a lot of laughs and few nostalgic memories.

Liam Neeson plays Hannibal, and a remarkably convincing George Peppard look-alike he is!  Not the kind of character you’d expect ol’ Liam to play, but he was spot on for the role.

And seriously, where has this Bradley Cooper guy been and why haven’t I noticed him before?  Brilliantly cast as “Face” Templeton, Cooper delivers a really fun performance with enough shirtless time on camera to please even the most discerning of women.  (If you go, watch the scene carefully where Face is broken out of a Pensacola military prison.  Dirk Benedict, who originated the role in the TV series, has a small part as “Pensacola Prisoner Milt”.  I missed it now I want to see it again!)  Funny, and he made the role work, so props to Cooper and I hope I see him again and often.

I thought the story-telling was interesting, if a little chaotic, but the action scenes delivered a lot of explosions and fires and all the things that make the A-Team what they are.  Improbably setups and outrageously executed missions, but who cares?  (Ignore the fact that the aircrew members Hannibal is talking to on the C-130 are Air Force guys and the big shot of MARINES on the tail of the airplane.)

This was one 80’s TV series-to-modern-movie that wasn’t a disgrace to the original memories.  If you don’t want to drop the $9 on big theater prices, consider it for a Friday night pay-per-view option.  Just don’t expect too much.