This is the best Music Monday ever! File this under HILARIOUS.

The iGasm is the brainchild of Ann Summers - a vibrator that connects to any portable music player and (GET THIS!) vibrates to the beat.

Now, obviously, Apple is not happy about 1) the use of the trademark “i” in the product’s name, 2) the use of the clearly ripped off ad format, and (I’m guessing, at any rate), 3) the “sex toy” nature of the product.

Summers must have KNOWN she would get sued.

However…I’m thinking maybe that was the plan all along. Look at all this publicity!

I know that I, for one, would be LYING if I said that I didn’t REALLY want an iGasm now.

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Sam Peterson didn’t know he was doing anything wrong.

Every morning, he stopped outside the Union Street Cafe, which provides “free” wireless access, to check his email on the way to work. 5 - 10 minutes tops, I’m guessing. And he got arrested and charged with a felony because he didn’t buy a cup of their crappy coffee for the privilege.

Now, granted, when I stop at Panera to work, I always buy tea and a quiche and leave a nice tip because I appreciate the courtesy of the the WiFi they provide.

However, would I deserve to be ARRESTED if I didn’t?? Arrested for taking advantage of an unencrypted WiFi connection that the administrators themselves advertise as FREE????

That is abso-freaking-lutely ridiculous.

I say we stage a techie revolution. If internet cafes aren’t even tech-savvy enough to encrypt their WiFi and give customers a key printed on their receipt, they expect the public to be savvy enough to know it’s wrong to dial in or go to JAIL??? Screw them. In the (albeit paraphrased) words of Abbie Hoffman…STEAL THIS WIFI!!!

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I first became aware of this artist at the Sony Party at SxSW a year and a half ago. All the buzz leading up to the show was about the headliner, Brandi Carlile, but all the buzz afterward was about Susan Cagle. She’s that good.

In addition to catchy and upbeat pop numbers like “Shakespeare” (But before we do this - Do you like Shakespeare? Jeff Buckley? Watchin’ movies on Saturday? Do you like kissing when it’s raining? Makin’ faces at the station?) and “Manhattan Cowboy” (I was looking around and around, when I saw you my eyes stopped, had to turn around. You’re a country song ringing out in a city of hip-hop, and it’s such a beautiful sound), she dazzles with slow and contemplative pieces like “Feels Like Home” (Something has changed, the look in your eye, the touch of your hand took me by surprise)

For those who think mainstream music is being homogenized, no worries here - Cagle is no college girl playing coffeehouses to express her middle class angst. Her background has been anything but ordinary. The second oldest of 10 children, Cagle was raised in the Children of God (the same group that celebrities like River Phoenix and Rose McGowan spent their childhood a part of). She began learning to play the guitar at age 7, and spent much of her childhood busking with her brothers and sisters.

While still a teenager, Cagle left the group and her family, moved to New York, and began playing in Subway Stations (the girl is ballsy, right???). During one of these impromptu shows, she was discovered by producer Jay Levine of Lefthook Records, who introduced her to Steve Greenburg, the newly appointed president of Columbia Records. Cagle became Greenburg’s first signing.

Her debut CD, The Subway Recordings, was (much as the title implies) recorded during two live shows - one in New York’s Times Square Station and the other in the station under Grand Central.

Most recently, Cagle had the amazing opportunity to perform her autobiographical tear-jerker “Dear Oprah” (I had a bad life, a bad home, and a messed up family - till I woke up one morning and got myself free. Dear Oprah, see I had to run away. Dear Oprah, and I ain’t got nowhere to stay. And I hope ya, I hope ya never feel this way) for Ms. O herself, live on the Oprah Winfrey show!

Big things are coming for this girl - and she deserves them! She abandoned everything she knew and risked it all to build the life that was right for her. She had the talent and the drive to stick it out through the hard times, and now she’s coming out on top. In fact, I can’t think of anyone who deserves it more.

Pick up The Subway Recordings at Amazon for just $8.99. It won’t leave your player for a month, I promise.

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It occurred to me that a lot of people that read this blog might have found it because they’re looking for a digital camera. Not a specific one - just “a digital camera.” If you aren’t totally tech savvy (like moi…lol) that can be a helluva task. There are so many options out there. Sometimes buyers have no idea where to begin. I’d suggest checking out Consumer Reports, to start with. Buying a digital camera doesn’t have to be a hassle and it won’t be if you do a little research before making a purchase.

US $102.50 (11 Bids) End Date: Sunday Sep-07-2008 12:45:04 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $107.50 (18 Bids) End Date: Sunday Sep-07-2008 12:46:21 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $50.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Sunday Sep-07-2008 12:46:43 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $200.00 (2 Bids) End Date: Sunday Sep-07-2008 12:46:57 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $56.00 (16 Bids) End Date: Sunday Sep-07-2008 12:47:02 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

US $26.01 (7 Bids) End Date: Sunday Sep-07-2008 12:48:13 PDT Bid now | Add to watch list

A few years ago - before I became the techie goddess you see before you today - I went about buying a digicam the complete WRONG way. Buying a digital camera did not seem like a big deal. Of course, I didn’t want to pay too much but I also didn’t want a piece of junk, either. I got a camera that fell midway on the price scale. This is no way of buying a digital camera. Believe me.

The camera I got was made by a relatively unknown company and it was offered in a discount bargain store. It is usually a bad idea to purchase technological items at a store that sells groceries as well - lol.

The first gigantic disappointment - of the many - was that it was REALLY difficult to use. This user-unfriendly camera took me HOURS to master and never did end up delivering what it promised. There was a four second delay between shots. This can be an eternity if you are trying to capture kids or animals or…well, ANYTHING ELSE THAT FRICKIN’ MOVES!

Also, the camera had a two second delay when taking the initial picture so it was very hard to anticipate when I should press the button. A baby’s smile can be very short. In addition, there was an anti-red-eye flash that appeared about a second before the actual flash. GGRRRR!!!

I got lots of great shots with this camera - of people walking away. :/ Even adults had trouble posing for pics with this piece of crap. The first thing I looked for when buying a digital camera after this was quick shots and I wanted a device that functioned like a real camera.

After shopping around for a few weeks, I finally decided to follow my Dad’s advice (if you’re reading this Dad, I don’t wanna hear about it! :P) and check out Consumer Reports. I bought the camera that they listed as the “Best Buy” (not the store, the actual best deal…lol) and I couldn’t be happier with it…I’m still using it, as a matter of fact.

So, just log this under the heading of “TechGirly Advice” - don’t make a significant tech purchase without doin’ a little research first!

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