Blackberry Storm Pricing

As an avid Blackberry user, I follow the next generation Blackberrys (The Bold, The Storm, and Javelin) very closely. On Halloween, Fortune Magazine reported Vodafone's very cheap pricing for the Verizon bound Storm. Engadget went on to extrapolate that the Storm may be priced at 99 USD. This conjecture on the Storm pricing comes shortly after another rumor about Apple dropping the price of the 3g Iphone to 100 dollars sometime in 2009. Will both happen? I doubt it, but expect to see Verizon to price the Storm well bellow the $199 Iphone in the $100 to $150 range. This is a new approach for Verizon. Historically they rely on the strength of their network to sell potential costumers not attractive hardware. In 2005, Verizon passed on the opportunity to have exclusive rights to the Iphone because they weren't willing to pay the heavy subsidies and monthly allowances demanded by Apple. I am sure Verizon has been kicking themselves for missing out on the opportunity to sell the Iphone and are willing to take some chances in the form of heavy subsidies to have a sexy, well priced phone this holiday seasons. It will be interesting to see how this plays out...

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Merino Wool Underwear and Shirts

Growing up I hated wool. I Associated wool with over sized socks my mom would make around Christmas and itchy blankets on my Grandmother's guest beds. Recently, my younger brother Tim turned me onto a shop in downtown Portland (Oregon) called Icebreaker. All of their products are made of pure New Zealand Merino wool. Although their designs are very "sporty," appealing primarily for granola eating trail runners, some gems are available on their website. I personally own two V-Neck T-Shirts, in charcoal and white and a pair of Boxer Briefs, both pictured below.
Merino Wool is an awesome material with all the comfort of cotton and the advantages of wool. Look for more designers to use this fabric.

Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale

If you're ever in the Portland (Oregon) area during the first weekend of November, you should swing by the Catlin Gabel Rummage Sale. Each year, the Catlin Gabel community, a private day school, donates their odds and ends to benefit the financial aid annual fund. Generating around 300 thousand dollars, the sale occupies more than 100,000 square feet at the Portland Expo Center. The sale has everything you could imagine; from go-karts to vintage fishing equipment and Prada shoes. Check it out, you wont be disappointed.