David Bartels

Edit: As I was writing up this post, Verizon actually came out with their own no-contract phone plans . This is another obvious indicator of which way things are heading, and how big an impact T-mobile's strategy as one of the "Big 4" carriers offering no contract plans has had on the industry. I looked at these new Verizon plans and while the prices have slightly improved they still don't compare to Cricket or T-mobile. One of my plans for this blog is to share my own experiences in the hopes that they help someone else who's interested in trying the same thing. One area this could be effective is with finances. I tend to enjoy researching things, especially when it comes to finding ways to save a bit of money. I think the term "frugal" sounds like "cheap" to some people so instead I'll say that I like to eliminate waste in my spending habits. If you are like many adults I know, the cost of a monthly cellphone bill seems outrageous and...

I love podcasts. They are a great way to get useful or entertaining information about a subject I choose & at a time & place I choose. They seem to be coming up more & more in my discussions with other people. I personally listen to them while driving, running, walking over my lunch break, & even sometimes while at work. This post will be dedicated to some of my favorites. I'll try not to overwhelm you with a giant list. Please feel free to share your own recommendations as well! Technology: This Week In Tech (TWIT): I find discussions of current technologies fascinating (and occasionally frightening). TWIT is actually a live "netcast" which is also recorded & then can be downloaded as a podcast. Leo Laporte hosts a panel of 3 guests who discuss tech news & what it might mean for our lives. I think the panel is a great format because it allows for a wide variety of viewpoints & backgrounds on the show & occasionally leads to lively deba...

I've decided to jump back into blogging. I've had a number of short lived blogs in the past but they've all been abandoned due to a lack of commitment. I think the problem with my last couple efforts was that I just wasn't having fun with them. I had chosen a narrow focus after reading several recommendations about how important focus is in making a blog successful. In fact, one writer even calls a blog without a specific topic a waste of time . While these authors make great points, their definition of what makes a blog successful seems to be how popular it is or how much money it makes. If that's what makes a successful blog, then in most cases I agree that specific focus is very important. But I can think of many other definitions of success when it comes to blogging: If it helps hone your writing or HTML skills, if it helps you connect with even a few people, or if it simply brings you joy. With this blog I am aiming for those latter definitions of success. ...