CrunchTime App Helps Set Work-Life Balance Goals

Today might be the day after Thanksgiving, but many Americans aren’t experiencing a long weekend. In fact, more American workers are working harder than ever.

All work and no play can make Jack a dull boy. It can also result in a stressed out Jack. This week Tav Shande announced the new CrunchTime app for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which promises to help users track work hours with health, and vacation hours.

The idea is “crunching,” or working extremely long hours, which has become a global epidemic in the workplace. This app helps users track the hours, and even receive achievement badges to better balance work-life goals.

“CrunchTime has been developed to help improve quality of life for anyone who has a job. Many employees would like to have more time outside of work to do the things that make them happy and we are delighted to deliver help by putting CrunchTime into the pockets of millions of people around the world who are carrying iPhone and iPod touch devices,” said Tav Shande, CrunchTime’s Chief Architect.

Tav Shande CrunchTime Website

SPOT On With CES Innovations Award

The Consumer Electronics Show is still more than a month away, but at the recent CES Unveiled press event in New York City the DeLorme Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator was named winner of the CES Innovations Award. The Innovations Design and Engineering Awards program recognizes the most innovative consumer electronics (CE) across 35 of industry categories.

The Earthmate PN-60w was recognized as it the world’s first handheld GPS capable of sending custom text messages using SPOT satellite technology, and is thus ideal for outdoor enthusiasts (as well as international relief workers).

“DeLorme is deeply honored to receive this prestigious award, and especially excited to showcase the PN-60w with SPOT to the worldwide market at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in January,” said DeLorme Vice President Caleb Mason.

The Earthmate PN-60w with SPOT Satellite Communicator previously received a Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Award and a National Geographic Adventure Gear of the Year honors.

DeLorme

SPOT

Project RideRED Campaign Starts

This week pro cycling photographer and AIDS Awareness advocate Brian Hodes of VeloImages kicked off “Project RideRED.” This is a national campaign to raise awareness of and funds for a cure for AIDS/HIV. The event is timed to coincide with World AIDS Day, and the year-long Project RideRED campaign will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first AIDS diagnois.

“More than a million people in the United States currently live with HIV, with more than 50,000 new infections occurring each year,” said Hodes. “The last thirty years of AIDS has brought heartache and suffering to too many families ­­­­- now is the time for us to stand together. I invite members of the cycling community everywhere to throw on a red jersey or red product and RideRED.”

The campaign will be with a series of organized and individual tribute rides on November 28, 2010 and people from all over the world have committed to the event, where they will sport red clothing, accessories, components and/or bikes when the ride. Riders have further committed to taking part in 30 mile rides (one mile for each year of known AIDS infection).

Project RideRED partners include Primal Wear, HUDZ, Rolf Prime, FLUID, Earth, Wind and Rider, SIDI America and Walz Caps. All proceeds from the sale of limited edition items will benefit Until There’s a Cure.

Project RideRED

Pay With Your Phone at Beaver Run Slopes

Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center began a mobile program that allows skiers to pay for room, refreshments and services, plus find out about deals in the Breckenridge, Colorado ski resort. Register for the service with a text to “BEAVERRUN” (466-622), and you’ll find out about deals on the slopes, and be entered to win a two-night stay plus two one-day lift tickets at the resort. As with other loyalty programs, participating skiers will earn perks in the resort and in the town. You can also use the program, provided by Mocapay, to send mobile-to-mobile gifting , pay for hotels and restaurant services. This offers the convenience of using one device, your phone, to pay in addition to staying in contact with friends and having access to online information if you’re phone is Web-enabled without having to bring a wallet with bills and plastic on the slopes with you. Don’t you have enough to worry about with your skis and other equipment?

Beaver Run Resort

LIVESTRONG Offers Strong Protection for iPad and iPhone 4

RadioShack made a smart move by sponsoring a pro cycling team, and while Lance Armstrong didn’t have the best Tour de France, Team RadioShack did do extremely well overall, winning the team competition. The retailer is also making a smart move by helping promote Lance’s LIVESTRONG campaign, which fights for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Now you can show your team spirit whilst protecting your devices.

For the holidays RadioShack is carrying soft-touch polycarbonate cases that are part of the LIVESTRONG. These cases, which offer robust protection for mobile devices, are available for the Apple iPhone 4 ($24.99) and the iPad ($39.99). The cases boast a slim snap-on design that is form-fitted for the devices, and each adds protection without adding any extra bulk.

The cases feature an impact-resistant materials that provide strength and durability, while the rubberized surface further provides a nice secure grip.

RadioShack

LIVESTRONG

Team RadioShack

Prepping for Those Winter Rides

Winter arrives sooner in some areas. In Minnesota, there’s already a slushy blanket of snow on the ground and temperatures to match. Scott Thayer, GM at Civia, Cycles discussed his morning commute during his morning commute and details gear that’s helpful to make the cold more endurable in those winter months.

Civia Cycles

via [EcoVelo blog]

Hunting Calls Goes High-Tech

In the old days hunters used their hands, bits of straw and wood to emulate the sounds of their prey. Eventually this gave way to the plastic calls that hunters used for generations. My grandfather had many of those and frankly they sounded more like a cartoon character than a real animal, but maybe the old man never used them right.

He also never really understood the concept of a digital camera and always asked me where the film went too. He probably tried rewinding many a DVD. So I’m sorry that he didn’t get to ever try out an electronic game call. Those would probably have thrown him for a loop. Having heard a few I have to say they sound pretty convincing.

Cass Creek Calls has a line of products including the Mini Coyote Squeaker, a companion to the larger Mega Amp Coyote Call. This is the newest product in their line of light and compact callers that fit comfortably in the hand. These can also be strapped to a firearm, belt or pack. These feature an easy to use push button operation with Instant Interrupt. The Mini Coyote Squeaker provides five authentic animal sounds to attract coyotes, including Turkey Polut, Rat Distress, Pup Whine, Grouse Distress and Rodent Distress. Apparently coyotes go after animals in distress, and I thought all you needed was a road runner!

Cass Creek Electronics

Workout App Gets the Beat Up

Running requires a nice steady pace, and to help you keep it steady Upbeat Workout Apps has launched the Upbeat Workouts for Runners, a next generation app that makes your music keep up- or slow down- with you. The idea of this app is that it can match the song’s beats per minute with a runner’s steps per minute. Think of this as the ultimate “keeping in time” too.

The Upbeat Workouts for Runners also includes three coached workouts from world class running coaches, so you can get the option of personal training sessions on demand. The app is available for the iPhone and iPod Touch from the Apple App Store for $2.99.

Upbeat Workouts

Sizing and the Art of Buying a Bicycle

It all comes down to geometry. A bike frame is essentially two triangles. Both the angle and length of each side of the triangle is determined by its two other sides. EcoVelo has an interesting look at how geometry affects the fit of a bike, even when the triangle is the same height, the angle can yield very different results. This is true to determine stand over height, which the article discusses. Another consideration in bike fit is the reach. Very often a road bike will have a longer reach for better aerodynamics. When I bought my last road bike, the shop owner pointed out that Felt bikes tend to have a shorter reach, which is a better fit for me and that became the deciding factor. It’s a good idea to consult a good shop that will be able to fit you for a bike, and also know the differences between the different brands, for example the reach on Felt bikes, and be able to help you find the bike that will fit you best rather than just make a sale.

via [EcoVelo]

Pro vs. GI Joe: Season 2 of Rehabbing with the Troops

This week saw the kick off of season 2 of Rehabbing with the Troops, which this year includes a live event with the Washington Redskins form their training facility in Ashburn, Virginia. This year fans can check out live training of 20 wounded warriors working out alongside the Washington Redskins as well as live webcam feeds of warriors from USO Centers in San Antonio, San Diego and Baghdad, Iraq!

Rehabbing with the Troops was created as a partnership with the Wounded Warrior Project and the USO, and sponsored by Armed Forces Insurance. The goal is to connect pros and troops through video games and focusing solely on wounded warriors, providing them fun, yet intense workouts using the Ninetndo Wii console and EA SPORTS Active titles with professional athletes acting as their training partners. This season’s workouts will come from the just-released EA SPORTS Active NFL Training Camp and our warriors’ pro trainers are the Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.

Wounded Warrior Arena Official Website