Some call shopping a sport. And I agree. I mean, think about it. In order to get the job done right, one needs skill, technique, timing, and so much more. The only equipment you really need is a good, comfortable pair of shoes and a nice big purse (preferably with a fully-stuffed wallet and possibly a granola bar for some nourishment), and now there’s a new piece of equipment that’s going to make shopping a whole lot easier.

To get this new piece of shopping equipment, all you have to do is pull out your cell phone! No, not so you can chat it up with your friends as you bargain hunt, but so you can find the best deals on everything you’re shopping for. A new service called Pongr automatically tells you where you can get the best price on almost any item. Um, amazing?

According to the Pongr website, all you have to do is take a camera phone picture of the item you want (if it’s a book, CD, DVD, or video game) or type the UPC code or product description into a text message (if it’s clothing, shoes, electronics, or purses) and either e-mail your query to ping@pongr.com or text it to SHOPP. You’ll automatically get a text message back telling you where you can get the item for cheapest. If it’s online, you can purchase the item right from your phone and if it’s a brick and mortar store, Pongr will give you directions to the store. Read More »

It happens every year. School ends, your lease runs its course and its time to pack up all your sh*t and move out. In doing so, you discover things you haven’t seen since the day you moved in: that old camera (filed with embarrassing photos from that frat party during welcome week), the cell phone you dropped in the toilet and all those empty printer cartridges from finals first semester.

You consider selling everything on Craigslist… or you could just toss that crap in a hefty bag and leave it for the management company to tow away to the nearest landfill. You’d choose number two, didn’t you? Well, Al Gore would be quite upset with you, Captain Contaminator.

Read More »

Vibrators.

We all use ‘em. You may not admit it, but you do. Don’t worry; I won’t tell.

Yet, considering how many are sold in the world every year (like a bajillion), there are very few women who actually know their history. I was quite curious to discover the origins of my favorite piece of technology (yes, I love it more than my iPOD) so I did a little research.

Turns out, the vibrator has a long and interesting history.

Back in the early 1800’s, doctors discovered that hysteria in women could be treated by increasing blood flow from the uterus to the brain. Their tactic? Bringing women to orgasm…by hand.

Well, shockingly, the doctors got pretty popular. Apparently hysteria was spreading. The doctors got quite tired “treating” the women, so some invented a machine that would do all the work for them. Thus, the vibrator was born.

When the 1900’s rolled around, entrepreneurs realized the potentially huge market for handheld vibrators. Women suffering from hysteria (or from inexperienced lovers…like most of the boys I’ve met in college) could save a lot of money treating themselves at home versus seeing their doctor weekly.

In 1902, the vibrator was only the fifth take home appliance ever invented. The sewing machine came before it. The iron came after. In fact, the vibrator was the catalyst to the creation of the small electric motor used in most small appliances today. Had women not had the urge to pleasure themselves, we may have never had blenders! Read More »