Blippy is a website where people obsessively review everything they buy.
Level 2

Shannon W.

Chemist in Training
Alfred Powerpack
Alfred is an amazing task-launching program that surpasses the popular "Quicksilver" in both form and function. You can launch applications, perform custom searches, etc with the tap of a few keys. The reasonably priced "Powerpack" is an addition to the already-free program. It adds iTunes control functionality, file system navigation, clipboard history, terminal control, etc. I typically don't believe in paying for "additions" to already-free programs, but this was well worth every penny! You also get free upgrades for the rest of the 0.x and 1.x releases. :D Oh, and it's only available for Mac OSX!
impulsebuyer Is the biggest benefit from using this increased speed, or is there something else I'm missing?
nucleophile Yeah. It's definitely a productivity-boosting app tailored for a user who wants to streamline their workflow and reduce time wasted trying to "click" their way through folders to find things. Much, much more powerful and useful than Spotlight.
Evernote App
I love Evernote. Everything about it is just great. I need to utilize it into my workflow more, but that's my own fault. Their iPhone/iPad apps could use a little work and more functionality, but their desktop app is amazing!
Dropbox App
Dropbox is my favorite productivity/utility app ever. For those of you who remember "My Briefcase" from the early Windows days, this is 100 times better. Being able to sync files between all my computers is essential and extending that to my iPhone/iPad is a thick layer of icing on the cake with a cherry on top. Also, since I believe in the goodness of people, here's my referral link (you and I get 250 MB extra or 500 if you sign up with a .edu address): http://db.tt/UQZ0vd0
· app from iTunes
jacq if i didn't already have an account, i'd use your referral link!
nucleophile @jacq Thanks! ;)
Yelp App
My absolute favorite app! If you're out and about looking for a place to eat, drink, get your oil changed, etc. this is the app to have on hand. Be wary of reviews though because I've found several places with under 4 stars to be of 5-star quality.
· app from iTunes
awesome (3) · funny · informative (1) · omgwtf
nucleophile Seriously... When you criticize the local McDonald's for being too greasy, you really need to check your priorities...
beverlynoelle I knoooow. Some people are never happy...I just hope that I don't accidentally date someone who posts low scores on Yelp.
nucleophile Indispensable question for a first date from now on: "What's your Yelp screen name?" Haha...
beverlynoelle @heiditron NOOOOOOOO! Seriously, I might have to cut a dude.
amyuhrich @heiditron I get the same feeling. Damn I would hate to date one of those people...
Epocrates App
I've used Epocrates since I got my first PDA 4 years ago. Pictures of pretty much any medication available can be looked up to confirm that you're taking the right thing. My favorite thing however is the ability to look up drug interactions. So if you're taking multiple medications for whatever reason, now you're covered! :)
· app from iTunes
dive_philospher wow this sounds pretty awesome. now i just got to get sick.
Lucky Flowers Mix & Match Stationery by Amy Butler
My fiancee loves Amy Butler's stuff, so this was the perfect gift!
· $6.08 book from Amazon
nucleophile I'm way too fickle to ever be fully satisfied... that's why I've made it into a life goal. lol.

I'm a Ph.D. student in chemistry, so it's a chemistry-based joke I've used for a while. lol. A nucleophile is a compound that donates its pair of electrons to form a bond with an electrophile... sounds kind of risque now that I think about it...
nucleophile This is true! I figure I'd order a couple cases of it if I ever found it. That's what my life savings is secretly for...
nucleophile Haha. That would be pretty epic... talk about self-revealing!
jacq i love amy butler's designs. she makes great fabric patterns.
gkruis Dig the name. Gotta say it's a lot more creative than mine.
amyuhrich @jacq THAT's why she sounds familiar. Good stuff.
APAK Happy Hermits Stationery Set by APAK
Great set of very cute stationery!
· $5.50 book from Amazon
fnoo His name is Pete. It occurs to me that I should probably use one of my own pixel penguins. (I've got a few.) This one was illustrated by a certain Joan Stone.
fnoo @nucleophile You can find more here, if you're so inclined: http://bit.ly/euVfDy
amyuhrich @fnoo OMGpenguins!
fnoo Different penguin now!
nucleophile @fnoo YES!!! I love penguins! I have about 10 stuffed animal ones... Do you have any baby pixel penguins? This obsession has got to be unhealthy...
fnoo Hadn't even considered a baby pixel penguin. There's an idea worth developing.

Not even a bad title.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
Great movie! Only complaint I had is that it left me wanting to see the second part more than I've ever wanted to see the second part of any other film!!!
· $18.75 movie from Fandango
awesome (4) · funny (2) · informative (3) · omgwtf (1)
amyuhrich They certainly tried hard with Dobby...I think it might have been the fact that he was so blatantly CG, whereas pretty much all the other speaking characters in this one were not (at least, not nearly as obviously--with a couple exceptions). So I guess I might have trouble with the CG aspect. Or maybe I'm just racist against elves. That would explain a few things, actually...
gkruis I hear that. I guess I've just got a bigger heart than you. A heart big enough for sniveling, large-eyed, CG elves, apparently.

Maybe I should consider downgrading the size of my heart.
amyuhrich @gkruis Ouch. I guess I just sympathize more easily with things I know are real...which is why on the whole, I have little to no interest in the fantasy genre.
gkruis All I'm really saying is that as far as I know you have a reasonable-to-large-sized heart; mine is planetesimal. I weep easily and publicly at minor tragedies. The hint of sorrow: paroxysms, blubbering, unpacking of plus-sized hankie, endowment of tears. When I'm rich the first order of business will be to find a shoulder for hire that I can cry on.
amyuhrich Impressive. Or should I say inconvenient.
gkruis Inconvenient. Doctors have told me that I may have to get retrogrinchian surgery to shrink my heart a few sizes.
Timbuk2 Commute 2.0 Laptop Messenger Bag,Black/Black/Black,M
So far (after a mere 12 hours of owning it), I love this bag! There is so much room, the laptop compartment is perfect with its corduroy lining and handy TSA compatibility. I may decide to get a Griptex pad (http://www.amazon.com/Timbuk2-Griptex-Messenger-Bag-Strap/dp/B002WC8ZDI) as I've seen some reviews that indicate it is well worth the money, but I don't see a need for it quite yet. I absolutely love the slot for a luggage handle and the amazing rubber bottom of the bag that seems impenetrable to the frequently-encountered grimy ground that I always fear to set my bag upon.

The only complaints that I have so far are:
1.) It doesn't have the "Napoleon pocket" that some of the other Timbuk2 bags have. This would be extremely convenient as it would be nice to have an easy-access pocket - especially when traveling as this bag is designed for!
2.) The organizational pockets are a little stiff - at least initially. It's a tight fit for everything that was in my backpack right now, but figure that will change as the bag sees further usage.
3.) There's only one water bottle pocket that seems a little shallow to fit anything bigger than a half-liter bottle. I usually like to store my phone or some change in one of these for quick access. This is where the "Napoleon pocket" would have been a nice addition. I may get either the Timbuk2 Dimebag or Shagg Bag to make up for this, but it's kind of annoying to have to cough up more dough and increase the bulkiness with more bags...
· $74 from Amazon
awesome (1) · funny · informative (6) · omgwtf
SemtexGirl What's a Napoleon pocket?
kpjimmy A place to slide a paper or magazine into. Picture Napolean and his hand in his breast jacket....no button no real pocket, just a place to slide something thing into.

But I do agree, it should have that pocket to stick your boarding pass into when traveling, even my simple cheapo targus bag has that lol.
nucleophile I almost feel gypped... lol... but then again the TSA pocket and rugged quality easily make up for it... :)
fnoo @kpjimmy Thought you typed "fungus bag" there. That creates a bit of a mental image.
Otis Woodruff & Keith Meyath - Boogie Squad
If you love any sort of blues and soul music, check this out. This whole album is teeming with it. This rendition of the Garnet Mimms song "Cry Baby" (once popularized by Janet Joplin as well) is amazing with great piano, soulful vocals, and a mean harmonica. Highly recommended!
· $0.99 song "Cry Baby (feat. John Woodruff, Scott Huston, Brian Webster & Jeff Cassidy)" from Amazon
  • nucleophile
Blippy