iPod

DrSugar is in the house! This week she's teaching us all how to protect our hearing.

Ever wonder if listening to your portable music player of choice could be detrimental to your hearing? New research, published in the International Journal of Audiology and reported by WebMD, suggests that up to one-fourth of college students may have evidence of early hearing loss and that it's possible that portable music players may play a role.

The researchers made this discovery after recruiting college students with normal hearing for a study on whether the use of portable music players can lead to temporary hearing loss. Several of the students who reported normal hearing were actually found to have signs of hearing loss when tested formally. To learn more about hearing loss and its possible correlation to portable music players, keep reading!

When going solo, I always run with a new iPod Nano. It doesn't matter if I'm running outdoors or inside on a treadmill, I love running with music. I even ran the NYC Marathon with two iPod Shuffles: one for backup just in case (though I only listened to music for the last 10 or so miles). Running with an iPod is a great way to zone out, but it's not without drawbacks. Here, a list of pros and cons to keep in mind when running with an iPod and headphones.

Pro: It's a great distraction. Listening to some music can really pump you up for a run and get you into a zone.

Con: It's a distraction. If you're running on a road, especially a busy road, or anywhere that fast cyclists may zoom by, listening to music at too loud a volume could put you in serious danger.

Pro: It can help you with your pace. Create playlists of songs with similar tempos to keep yourself going through a difficult run. Or, choose songs with a beat slightly faster than your pace if you're hoping to increase your speed.

Con: It could turn into a crutch. If you rely on noise from your iPod to mask your heavy breathing, footsteps, or just to help you get through a run, you might have trouble not listening to music. Many races have banned the use of iPods (or strongly discourage them), so if you're training, try a few runs sans iPod so you know what it feels (and sounds) like.

I could go on for days on how you can recycle your old gadgets, but what about those times you just need some cash in order to upgrade to a newer model? Well, you can try your hand at selling them on Craigslist or Ebay, but if you've got your eye on a new iPod, then next week is your week, my friend.

Starting on Oct. 17, and running through Oct. 23, you can take up to three used iPods into select Toys R Us locations and receive up to $100 toward a newer model (iPod or iPod Touch) in the form of a Toys R Us "trade up" card. Your old iPods will need to be in working order of course, and payment will depend on the age, model, and condition, but hey — seems like an easy way to make some quick cash off of a gadget that served its time well.

Tots are hard on toys — that's all there is to it. And, even a pricey gadget like an iPad — with all its bells and whistles — is the same as a Lego or truck in a lil one's mind. Since there are so many apps that make an iPhone a kid-friendly piece of technology, companies are now making protective, durable holders aimed at the small set. Here are two of my favorites. The Tadpole ($13) is a silicon case that has easy-grip handles and impact protection. Available in four primary colors with a plethora of screen designs, the Tadpole is an affordable option for families. The Woggie ($20) is a plush case for an iPod that doubles as a pillow. It's a cozy option for kids who want to read digital books or jam to their favorite music.