When I browse the iTunes Store looking for free stuff to write about I usually wind up talking about stuff that, in general, appeals to guys. I am a guy after all, so it’s easy to understand why that’s so. This week, however, I’ve made a concerted effort to find things that may appeal to women as well as men. You might say that I’m attempting to get in touch with my feminine side.

You might say that, but you’d be wrong. If I ever had a feminine side it got buried with the pink popcorn shirt I had when I was a kid in the 70s. (Hey, I wore it with flared jeans and platform shoes, and I made it look good even if the outfit was gender nonspecific.)

Still, I made the effort so continue on and see how I did.

First up is a podcast specifically for women (and for men who wish they were): The Secrets of Style with Kim Foley.

When I found this podcast I was hoping that it wasn’t geared specifically for women. You see, I have no style, and I was hoping that the podcast would give me some general pointers about color and what shirt might go well with what pants. As it is I pretty much default to jeans and a stripped pullover, even for weddings.

Secrets of Style, no longer a secret

OK, that’s not true, but it’s not far off either. Unfortunately for me, but a definite bonus for you girls out there, Kim Foley is all about giving tips for everything from putting on makeup (I never knew it was so complicated) to picking a proper pair of walking boots.

Each episode is about a minute and a half long and there are at least 17 of them, and all are choke full of info.

Guys, if you’ve ever wondered why your significant other takes so long to get ready when you’re going out watch a few episodes and you’ll wonder no more. It’s absolutely amazing what women do to themselves in the name of beauty.

Anyway, be ye male or female, but mostly if you’re female, check out Secrets of Style.

Next up is a TV show that caught my attention, it’s a reality show where amateur photographers compete for $100,000, a gig shooting a fashion layout for Marie Claire magazine, and a Victoria Secrets ad campaign. (That should pretty much get anyone’s attention)

The Shot looked interesting to me because I have an interest in photography, but after watching the free episode (Every Picture Tells A Story) I’ve discovered one facet of photography I have no interest in; shooting while on a reality show.

If you’re a competent photographer then your work should speak for you regardless of what you shoot. These types of reality shows are not real at all; they put people in contrived situations which have little to do with real photography where the photographer can plan and execute his or her assignment however he or she may see it. Consequently the resulting photos aren’t the best the photographers can offer.

Also, shoving everyone into teams and making them live together is stupid. Photographers are loners to a large extent, it is their personal view of the world that sets them apart from others. How can you reasonably assess someone’s work when it’s a team effort produced by individuals? Silly.

Anyway, take a look at the freebie episode of The Shot, if you’ve never seen a photo shoot before then watching can give you an eye opener.

OK, I can’t stand it. I’ve got to watch something closer to my true nature, and for that I’d like to direct your attention to Comedy Central’s Stand-up Hot Picks.

Each episode of Comedy Central’s Stand-up features a particular comic doing his or her stand-up routine. The free download is 24 minutes of one minute clips of some of the best routines. Wanda Sykes, Brian Regan, Gabriel Inglesias, Aries Spears, and many others do their best to make us laugh, and they do a pretty good job of it.

There’s 91 episodes!!!! Luckily you can just grab the ones you like. Each are about 22 minutes long.

Check it out.

Before I wrap it up this week I’d like to point you to an audiobook that makes an excellent gift; The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman.

Yes, there is a movie coming out based on the book, but I suggest you listen to this audiobook version first as it is one of the best audiobooks I’ve ever heard. The sound effects, voices, and other details draw you in and makes this wonderful story even more captivating. Also, The Golden Compass can be had for just $9.95, less than half the price of the other 2 books in the series; The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

Well worth the price and anyone getting this as a gift will love you for it.

OK, that’s a wrap.

More freebies on the iTunes Store:

Vern Seward is a writer who currently lives in Orlando, FL. He’s been a Mac fan since Atari Computers folded, but has worked with computers of nearly every type for 20 years.