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How To Listen To CDs Without A CD Player

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Photo via Amazon

In the Year of Our Lord 2022, apparently CDs are still being produced. I have been brushing up on my foreign language skills recently, and most textbooks you can buy online boast that they come with an audio component to practice your listening comprehension. For some, that means recordings that can be accessed via QR code or URL. For others, it means they stick a CD in a pouch attached to the back page of the book.

Why they do this I have no idea. Presumably they do not want to pay hosting fees to maintain a website with the audio files. Whatever the reason, it is extremely annoying. How do they expect their customers to use the CDs? These days, people are more likely to own a record player than a CD player. Unless you happen to have an old PS3 lying around, the only place you might have a CD player is in your car. These publishers can’t honestly think people are going to drive around every time they want a language lesson, right? In addition to being a big hassle, that also seems rather unsafe.

All of this is to say that I had to go to Amazon and purchase a CD player. At first I bought a portable CD player, perhaps in an unconscious nod to the good times I had growing up listening to my Sony Walkman.

Photo via Amazon

GPX PC332B Portable CD Player with Anti-Skip Protection, FM Radio and Stereo Earbuds – Black — $23.83

When it arrived, I was excited to finally get back to my language learning. Unfortunately, the thing turned out to be a piece of junk. It does not work at all. I put in the batteries and my CD, and it turned on. But no matter what buttons I pressed it would not actually produce any sound. I tried both the cheap earbuds it came with as well as my own, both to no avail. In short, do NOT buy this CD player.

Back to the drawing board. I started searching again on Amazon and decided to try a different route. At first I was leery of buying a CD-ROM drive to attach to my laptop. I figured that already spend enough time each day glued to my computer screen, so why tether myself if I didn’t have to? But all the CD players with the best reviews were that type, so I bit the bullet and bought this one:

Photo via Amazon

External DVD Drive USB 3.0 USB C CD Burner Amicool CD/DVD +/-RW Optical Drive,Slim Portable DVD CD ROM Rewriter Writer Duplicator for Laptop Desktop PC Windows 10/8/7 MacBook Mac Linux OS Apple — $24.99

Thank God I did! The Amicool external CD-ROM exceeded all my expectations. I was worried about having to mess with some sort of installation software, but it turned out to be truly plug-and-play. Importantly, it comes with a USB-C adapter. (Watch out: A lot of the available options only have a traditional USB-A plug, useless if you are using a MacBook.) I was able to listen to the audio files as soon as I inserted the CD. Success!

If this were all the CD player did, I would give it my seal of approval. But I haven’t even mentioned the best part. As soon as you play a track from the CD, iTunes (or whatever Apple is calling its music software these days) immediately uploads and stores it. Remember how I said I didn’t want to have to sit in front of my computer more than I had to? That is not a problem if the sound files are always in your Music app. That means you can listen to them on your iPhone or iPad wherever and whenever you please. Happy listening!

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How To Treat Neck Pain

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Neck pain can be a very serious issue. If your neck starts to hurt, it is important that you don’t simply ignore it. Pay attention to the signs and symptoms that may make the matter more serious. For example, holding your neck in place for a long period of time can exacerbate neck pain. This can be particularly troublesome, because all sorts of activities central to modern life, such as driving and working at a computer, require such a position. Other indications of severe neck pain include muscle tightness and spasms, as well as headaches. If your neck pain is bad enough, it is possible you are not even able to move your head. 

Although the above symptoms may not apply to you, it is still prudent to examine your life for potential future causes of neck pain. Doing a self-audit can save you a lot of headaches (literally) down the line, not to mention medical expenses. Start by examining your posture: Poor posture is one of the primary causes of neck pain. Repetitive motions and bad sleep habits are similarly avoidable origins. Neck pain can also result from a different medical issue, such as muscle strains or pinched nerves, or injuries from exercising or other physical activity. Fibromyalgia is another common culprit. 

If you start experiencing neck pain, you do not have to immediately seek out a doctor. As long as your neck pain remains mild, there are quite a few self-care remedies you can employ. Alternating the application of ice and heat can help, using the ice to reduce swelling and pain as the heat relaxes muscles and improves blood flow. You can also try correcting the problem at its source: Fix your posture, or sleep in a better position, and your neck pain may very well go away on its own. If your job does require you to hold your neck in position, be sure to take frequent breaks for short walks and gentle stretches. In addition to these solutions, you can be sure to relieve pain and improve comfort by giving yourself a massage. 

Unless you happen to have a live-in massage therapist, you will need a massage device to properly work on your neck. Luckily, there are several effective and affordable such machines available from NAIPO. A prime example is the classic 150DC, the most popular massager in the company’s history. This Shoulder & Neck Massager with Shiatsu Kneading Massage and Heat uses a U-shape design to envelop your neck as its nodes simulate the feel of a professional’s fingertips. Another good choice is the innovative oPillow, which attaches to your office chair to help you work out any kinks while you’re on the job. Both of these NAIPO massagers—the 150DC and the oPillow—can relieve neck pain, allowing NAIPO users to find well-being. 

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NAIPO Joins Massage Gun Craze With New Model

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NAIPO, one of the world’s leading massager companies, continues its hot start to the year by releasing its third new product of 2023. On the heels of its foot spa and handheld percussion massager comes its most anticipated launch yet—the NP-MG01 massage gun

In recent years, massage guns have become the crown jewel of the at-home massager market. Vibration therapy not only relieves muscle soreness generally but offers specialized benefits during post-workout recovery. Massage guns are a favorite of professional athletes, as well as weekend warriors and fitness freaks. Anyone who takes their physical health seriously needs a massage gun in their gym bag. 

Now, they can make it the NP-MG01 massage gun. Smaller and more compact than similarly designed products, this exciting new massager weighs just 390g (under 1 pound), which means anyone can carry it around in their pocket no problem. It also boasts a sleek design, with attractive and durable UV black paint making it smooth to the touch and easy to clean. 

A common complaint with most massage guns previously available for purchase is their annoyingly loud noise output. To solve this issue for its users, NAIPO’s R&D team designed this massage gun with a proprietary brushless motor with Quiet Technology™. Combined with an internal lithium-ion battery with convenient USB-C charging, this provides up to 180 minutes of continuous whisper-quiet massage treatment. 

From its many years of experience in the field, NAIPO knows that massages are not “one-size-fits-all.” Every person is different, and every person deserves a specialized massage to meet their individualized needs. To that end, the NP-MG01 massage gun features 5 speed levels and 4 interchangeable massage head attachments. That degree of customization is sure to provide advanced levels of relief and relaxation to anyone who gets their hands on it. 

The NP-MG01 massage gun is available now via NAIPO’s own website. 

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With Daylight Savings Time Ending, It May Be Time For A SAD Lamp

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Photo via Amazon

I am not a licensed psychiatrist, so I am not going to weigh in on whether Seasonal Affective Disorder is a legitimate mood disorder, as opposed to a normal human response to a change in seasons. But I will say that whoever named it obviously thought it was a joke – there is no way you can tall someone you are “SAD” and expect the sympathy that traditionally accompanies revelations of mental illness.

Whether you actually suffer from clinical depression or just would prefer more sunlit hours in a day, now is the time of year to start preparing for the winter blues. Daylight Savings Time is ending this weekend, which is the government’s way of telling you it does not want you to be happy when you get off work in the evenings.

In theory, SAD lamps can help. Contrary to their name, SAD lamps are not designed to bring you further down into the dumps but instead to make you happy. Maybe they should call them HAPPY lamps. I’ll let the professionals to come up with some appropriate backronym for that like they obviously did with Season Affective Disorder all those years ago.

Photo via Amazon

Verilux® HappyLight® Lucent – UV-Free LED Light Therapy Lamp, Bright White with 10,000 Lux, Detachable Stand, and Wall Mountable — $39.99

SAD lamps are useful for so-called “light therapy.” Again, I’m not a doctor, so I do not know exactly how they work, besides the crucial fact that they are meant to mimic daylight while filtering out UV rays. Putting one in your home can help you combat the effects of earlier and earlier sunsets, and maybe even trick your brain into thinking you live in Florida. SAD lamps aren’t very expensive, so if your mood ever starts to sag (especially going into the holidays without being surrounded by family), you might as well give it a go.

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