I have been trying to justify buying an iPod for a number of months now. My local NPR station is a translator from Dallas and it just does not have enough punch now and then. In fact, there are a few hills on my regular walk where the station is drowned out by several other stations. I simply walk faster on that corner. My other block (my basic tight-wadism being the first) to buying an iPod was the fact that you have to pay to get the NPR and BBC news podcasts.
The other day, I was at the iTunes store looking for something and found a number of French news and general interest podcasts, and they were all free! Now I had the justification! I have recently subscribed --but have yet to receive my first copy-- to l'Actualite, a French language magazine from my neighbors to the North. So this fit into my grand plan to get better at understanding French. I can read all day, but listening is a problem since I have no one to talk to on a regular basis.
Since my tax return this year was bigger than it needed to be, I figured I could skim some off the required costs (air fare and debts) to get something for me. I ordered the 20g click-wheel unit off Apple's refurbished page. It was less than double the cost of a new Shuffle. I finally got it yesterday. After charging it up, I loaded some tunes, my podcasts, and the family oral history. I had not listened yet to my dad and my brother Ken talking about life. So to inaugurate my new tool (read:toy), I took a long walk with Dad and Ken. Thanks for the walk guys. I now have my folks to listen to when ever and where ever I want.
Now, when I someday need to function in French, I will be able to understand more than the small percentage I understood on my walk today.
The other day, I was at the iTunes store looking for something and found a number of French news and general interest podcasts, and they were all free! Now I had the justification! I have recently subscribed --but have yet to receive my first copy-- to l'Actualite, a French language magazine from my neighbors to the North. So this fit into my grand plan to get better at understanding French. I can read all day, but listening is a problem since I have no one to talk to on a regular basis.
Since my tax return this year was bigger than it needed to be, I figured I could skim some off the required costs (air fare and debts) to get something for me. I ordered the 20g click-wheel unit off Apple's refurbished page. It was less than double the cost of a new Shuffle. I finally got it yesterday. After charging it up, I loaded some tunes, my podcasts, and the family oral history. I had not listened yet to my dad and my brother Ken talking about life. So to inaugurate my new tool (read:toy), I took a long walk with Dad and Ken. Thanks for the walk guys. I now have my folks to listen to when ever and where ever I want.
Now, when I someday need to function in French, I will be able to understand more than the small percentage I understood on my walk today.
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