Review - 5.5v Solar Powered Folding Charger Panel

In this modern age, how many of us have gone hiking, camping, fishing, etc only to find our phone, flashlight, or GPS battery dies. Not many years ago, we'd just made sure that we had an extra set of batteries, but now so many products come installed rechargeable and often non changeable batteries. So what options do you have if out on a 3 day hike with no phone. Well you can hope that you don't run into any problems, or want to take any pictures or you can buy a travel solar charger. I decided to buy a solar charger from China on Ebay and got it for $15( I just couldn't see myself paying $200 for a name brand charger from a name brand store). Though I don't trust the rechargeable batteries from China, I have no problem with their other electronics... sometimes you get a lemon but that's the chance you take when your 'Cheap'.. like me.

Now this charger advertised several things, but like many items on Ebay, buyer beware of the small print or items that look surprisingly like a name brand. Lets go down the list;

1) 5.5v 5W 1000ma current - which is what you get roughly when plugged into a USB port. This item did provide that current, and did fully charge up my iPod touch. BUT the condition had to be full sunlight. Shade, indoors, partially covered cells... were all no go.
PASSED - So at the end of the day, it worked as intended. As far as I'm concerned every other feature is just frosting

2)  Water proof panels - well without actually opening this thing up there's just no way to see if the panels are water proof, I can say they are made of a hard plastic/plexi material not unlike glass. There is a thin skin over the cells, much like a screen protector film that you get on a new phone, yet this film is not removable.
UNKNOWN - Which means it can survive a few water drops on it without penetrating to the cells.

3) Water Proof Cloth - Like the cells its impossible to check if its water proof. The cloth is a tightly woven nylon and likely has a plastic backing, much like a backpack. So lets presume the cloth is waterproof, but the seams won't be.
UNKNOWN - Even the best packs leak at the seams in a downpour. But then lets ask our selves, why would we use a solar power charger in the rain? We wouldn't, so the question of waterproof is really MUTE. Its small enough that I plan on keeping mine in a freezer bag sealed and in my pack. If I need to use it after a rain passes, pull it out and lay it on the freezer bag so the bottom of the charger isn't exposed to continuous moisture.

4) USB cable output - Pretty straight forward... has it, works
PASSED - Not a big deal, but something to keep in mind. If you're bringing your phone, iPod, camera, or whatever. Remember to bring its USB charging cable too. Otherwise this charger will be useless.

5) Durability - The cells are what I worry about, when you hold this charger all folded up, you just feel like you're going snap it in half by accident. So I dropped it, yes on purpose. First with it folded up from about 10 feet high, it landed on hard ground, no cells were damaged.
PASSED - I like this item and don't want to buy another, so I'm not going to do the drop test with it opened up.... instead I did a crush test. One of the selling points was that it has grommets to attach to the back of your pack so it can charge while your hiking. So I opened it, attached to the back of my pack and put on my pack. Then I backed into a tree, then sat down and fell backwards on to it. No damage with the exception of some marks on the film that covers the solar cells, so as far as I'm concerned its durable enough

I suppose the gist is that it works as advertised, reasonably durable and is at the very least water resistant. Definitely worth the $15 I spent, and suits my needs for charging small electronics in the field. Something else to keep in mind, this might collect more light if the screen protector type wasn't covering the solar cells. Right now it works fine for my needs, however as the 'film' gets more ragged, I'm likely to use a razor and carefully cut around the edges and remove that film to expose the solar cells better. If it comes to that, I'll update this post. 

How to Get Autographs through the Mail TTM

There are 4 simple steps to getting an autograph through the mail. These steps work for movie stars, TV personalities, sports athletes, etc. If you aren't able to go to TV Show Live Tapings, Fan Days, conventions, etc, to meet your favorite entertainer. Then getting an autograph through the mail is a nice alternative, and its fairly easy. Lets use my most recent success as an example.

Step 1) Decide who you want an autograph from and find their fan mail address

• There are several online databases that have celebrity fan mail addresses. Some require a monthly fee but I prefer not to pay. The best FREE celebrity address database is Fanmail.biz, and is the one I use. No sign up is required.

• If you don't mind receiving a pre-printed autograph, there is a great little fan mail organization called Studio Fan Mail. Celebrities supply them with pre-printed autographs to be sent out to fans. Unfortunetly they don't supply a list of available photos, so you may have to search around the web for a list from other people who have used the service. To receive a pre-printed autographed photo of your favorite celebrity, just send a short email message with your request and mailing address to celebrityname@studiofanmail.com. (example-- kaleycuoco@studiofanmail.com) 

• If writing to a sports team you aren't sending a trading card or specific photo to be autographed, you may find it easier to send your autograph request via email. Most sports teams have a well maintained fan mail and email accounts. To write to a sports team, find their home page online, got to their Fan page or Contact Page. You'll often find a couple addresses to choose from, an email for general fan letters and a snail mail for special autograph requests.

I wrote to the Milwaukee bucks in this example. I used there email address which is found in the contact section of their home page

Step 2) What to write:

• How you write a request is far more important than what you write. A short request letter or email written with sincerity is far more likely to get a reply than a long drawn out letter about how much you "love" them.

• The best request letter or email will include these: Let them know your a fan, tell them your favorite movie, TVshow or game AND why its your favorite. Make your request for an autograph, photo, or if writing a sports team you can request a Fan Pack (Fan Packs are usually team logo'd items like buttons, fridge magnets, schedules, posters and in some rare instances t-shirts.

• If you are writing a snail mail letter and sending photos to be autographed, I strongly suggest two things. First, only send photos you are willing to never see again. Mail gets lost, and when you're a celebrity and receiving hundreds of letters a day, somethings bound to get lost or ignored. Secondly, of all those hundreds of letters they receive daily, most are asking for autographs. That's a lot of signing! So don't send more than 2 photos, more than that would appear greedy and will most likely NOT get signed. 

My email to the Milwaukee Bucks was simple and to the point. I wrote that I had enjoyed a game while passing through town, and mentioned that I especially enjoyed the performance of the 'dance team', and requested an autograph

Step 3) What to mail:

• If sending them a photo to be autographed, also include a stamped self addressed envelope to return the photos to you. Why should the celebrity pay to return it to you? Be sure to put enough postage on the return envelope, and put your address in the return address section too. That way if the envelope doesn't have enough postage on it, it'll still get back to you... and you'll be able to give your postage carrier any postage due.

• NEVER send something you cherish, what ever you send, expect to never see again. Its not the celebrities responsibility to care for your cherished photos, memorabilia, etc. Though celebrities and there authorized agents will obviously show your items care, accidents do happen... coffee spills, fan mail gets lost, crushed.. etc. Save those cherished items for conventions when you can personally hand the item to them for an autograph. 

Step 4) The Waiting Game:

• Now the hard part.. you've sent  your request and now you just have to wait. Be patient, it can take months to get a reply. Depending on the celebrity or team you've written to, it can take up to a year to get a response... after a year has passed, I would just consider it a failure and try again. With some celebrities you have to try several times before getting your autograph, remember most do this in their off time and signing autographs isn't a job requirement. Its just something nice they do for some of there fans. So if they want to send you an autograph they will, if they don't they won't. It shouldn't change your view of them, they have lives too, and we should all respect that. 

I waited only a few weeks, and received this from the Milwaukee Bucks Dance Team.. Cool! Thank you!

McDonalds Shakes Up Fries with New Seasoned Fries - Review

Just when you think you've seen all that McDonalds can do with fast food, they prove that they still have a few ideas up their sleeves.  Unfortunetly 'Seasoned Fries' isn't a new idea, as Burger King attempted a similar promotion a few years ago and it never 'took off'.

You get a choice of Buffalo, Ranch or Garlic Parmesan, and as cool as it might sound to have a new seasoned fry on the table, there are a couple things to consider:

1) Convenience: Where are you going to be eating these fries? Oddly enough that's a valid question. You can't just pop these in your mouth when driving home from McDonalds.  Why not you ask? Because they're not ready made.... YOU MAKE THEM.

When I ordered mine, I was looking forward to trying them, when the cashier handed me my tray with a regular fries on it, I also noticed a small seasoning packet and a little paper bag. I of course inquired about the packet and was given a demonstration in how to SEASON MY OWN fries. The employee had obviously been showing a lot of customers how to do this cause he opened up the little paper bag, dumped in the fries and emptied the seasoning packet in... then SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE... and PRESTO! My normally tasty fries are now seasoned fries. Well it looked all fine when the cashier did it, but I'd like to see you do this at work or in the car. When I sat down to enjoy my fries, the woman at the next table was shaking her bag and cussing cause seasoning was coming out of the bag. She spent the next few minutes brushing herself off

2) Price: These new fries aren't cheap, and my guess is that extra money you have to dish out is to pay for the little shaker bags and seasoning packets.  Here's some free marketing advise for the executives at McDonalds - In a down economy like ours is currently, you don't 'jack up' prices on your signature menu item just cause you added a seasoning other than salt. If you want to show you're customers you don't care about them, then you've totally succeeded.

I feel like I've been bitch-slapped by McDonalds. Is it just me or does it feel like they're saying, "Hey here's your fries, we don't have time to sprinkle any seasoning on them.. DO IT YOURSELF!". I worked in a hamburger joint when I was in high school. I know how they fry the fries then toss them under a warmer, shake on some salt, all to be scooped up as needed. In many fast food restaurants there's even a section under the warmer for salt less fries. Well if you're going to have a promotion for seasoned fries, at least show your customers enough respect, to season the fries for them. How hard would it be to place a small baking sheet by the warmer, someone orders seasoned fries, you toss some fries on that baking sheet, you shake on some seasoning and scoop them up. Hmm maybe that's too easy a concept for the executives at McDonalds.

The simple truth about these fries is they are just fries with some seasoning sprinkled on. If you want seasoned fries, don't pay the extra for these. Just go home and pour your fries into a plate and sprinkle on some seasoning of your own. It'll cost less AND be less messy

Oh and to be perfectly fair to McDonalds, according to the signage on the menu board, if you order a value meal, you get the season packet and shaker bag free. So you're only paying the inflated price if you buy the fries separately. BUT you STILL have to SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE em up yourself....