Home Business Concepts

SEO Made Simple (Second Edition): Strategies For Dominating The World's Largest Search Engine

2012-02-05T03:09:00.001-08:00

It seems that the camps are divided on this book, but I think this is rather unfair considering its main purpose is as a great place to start with SEO. For someone who has only recently begun to learn about the intricacies of SEO, I found this a useful way to extend my link-building repertoire, with some great tips on what to avoid as well (not just black hat techniques but simple things like not exceeding the optimal amount of links to use).

I would have been interested to find out more about why exactly some of these techniques work, perhaps an elaboration of some of the features Google's algorithm is looking for. Obviously the general points are covered concerning authority and relevance, but it would be great to have a little more detail so that I could react to situations with confidence that perhaps would not be described in the book.

Saying that, I do not detract away from the merits of this book; for me, this is a great place to start and combines a lot of useful techniques in one place, reinforcing what I already knew. If you are serious about SEO and concerned that this book does not go over absolutely everything then you will continue to learn more about the coding and web development side of SEO and on-page optimization elsewhere.

No one expects a 100 page book to be exhaustive on any important and intricate topic, so why should this be any different?

Spice Stack Super Spicestack 27 Bottle Spice Rack White - Spice Stack 27100

2012-01-28T00:30:00.000-08:00

With all the swivel-store commercials that I see, and my disorganized spice cabinet, I went on Amazon to look at them only to find they had bad reviews about their flimsy and overall ineffectiveness. Then I found this thing, and while it is a little pricier than the swivel store, it was rated much better.

The box does take up all of the space where my spices were littered about in my cabinet, but now I can actually find them within seconds as opposed to rooting around and looking through all of them. You can double (maybe triple) the little spice bottles in one slot, and there are bigger slots for things like a big bottle of onion powder.

It also comes with pre-printed and blank labels to cover all your bases for organization.

With all that said, if you own your home (or can otherwise make permanent changes to your dwelling) and have a pantry with a door, I would suggest getting one of the racks that you can mount to the inside of the door. It will hold more spices and other miscellaneous things and is easier to grab things quickly. A friend of mine has one of these and I liked it a lot, but since we are renting we don't want to put holes in the doors.

However if all your spices are just shoved in a cabinet right now, pick up one or two of these so you can organize and go right for the chili powder the next time you need it.

Premium Noise-Isolating Headset with 3-Button Apple Control

2012-01-22T06:17:00.000-08:00

This is my 2nd pair of Klipsch IEMs. I also own a set of Promedia in-ear phones. Bass is a bit deeper with the S4i vs. the Promedia (maybe it's my imagination) and having the iphone control on the earphone cable is great. The sound is a bit bright/harsh at high volume but at moderate/low volume it's exceptional; smooth and balanced. For the price these Klipsh phones are a steal for the sound they produce.

The same can be said about the overall sound quality of the Klipsh Promedia phones too, excellent sound for a great price. The main thing you get with the S4i over the Promedia is identical control of your iphone as with the Apple earphones (minus the lousy Apple earphone sound quality and better background sound isolation).

I was looking at some of the pics posted here about cables falling apart at the plug. I have to wonder if those images are from an older model (or a fake) since my connector is different. There's a definite strain relief on the cable and it looks like only abuse would fray in my unit I've had the Promedia IEMs for 4 months now (same strain relief) and they've done wonderfully so far.

I expect the same from the Noise-Isolating S4i.

American Sniper: The Autobiography of the Most Lethal Sniper in U.S. Military History

2012-01-20T23:42:00.001-08:00

The first chapters of American Sniper are a perfectly suited introduction to the aw shucks, God, Country Family school of American kickass manhood. It is mind-bendingly simple to understand exactly why this nation will continue to be greatly defended for generations to come, because anyone who reads Chris Kyle's book and knows where Kyle is coming from (I do!) will recognize in a heartbeat the kind of Texas cowboy we will always have millions of. Kyle himself would never tell you that he's a one man army, but he is just the kind to fill the top ranks of the best army on the planet so long as it's funded.

There's only a little to say about the metastory here, as I will be slightly intrigued but much informed and entertained by the story to come. That is that you see in Kyle's story, the new soldier - the prototype by which humanity will be defended for generations to come.

He is not an outsider. He is not from the dregs of society. He loves his father and his family - his is not desperate for approval. He rises to the challenges of defending his country, and it makes all the difference that he is a volunteer and that this remains a free country. So long as our military institutions retain their transgenerational links, then they will be the fuel that will power militaries of the future. We must hope and indeed pray that armies comprised of such free men will remain victorious from here on.

It's corny. It's easy to understand. Because of that we are most fortunate. We retain the formula. He's just a fighter and he hates to lose. He understands that he has become a weapon and he is serious about his patriotic committment. His mission is a job and he is remorseless and relentless. He understands the deal of morality he has made, and he values an American life first. That is the kernel of it. The rest is training and experience, and now his knowhow is plowed back into instruction. That, my fellows, is a professional, and that is what we want our military forces to be.

One more thing. I would compare this book unfavorably to Wasdin's SEAL Team Six. I must confess that I like Wasdin's sense of himself as a warrior and as a person better than I like Kyle. Kyle is his own worst enemy talking about the kind of man he might have been if he were better. It's the kind of explanation those who are apt to respect him don't ask for and the kind those who are apt to disrespect him will find ridiculous. He's a soldier. Period. I'm sure it comes off much better in person than it does in the book. At any rate, we are fortunate to have all sorts on our side.

5 Important Tips for More Successful Campaigns

2012-01-14T08:23:00.000-08:00

With the world of social media dominating high volumes of b2b and b2c communications, what’s happening to email?

There is no doubt both the use and success of email has been in decline over recent years. What this means to marketing professionals is that of you want your email campaigns to succeed, then they need to be exceptional.

For me, email campaigns simply don’t work in isolation, especially in the b2b world. Perhaps that’s due to the nature of the business I work in but I believe to get the best results, email must be one dimension of a multi-touch strategy.

Anyhow, here are my top 5 tips for successful e-mail campaigns.

1. Subject Line
I believe around 80% of writing and design time should be spent on a compelling, engaging subject line and 20% on the rest of the content. If the subject line doesn’t scream ‘READ ME NOW’ then the content is pretty irrelevant.

2. The Hook
I can honestly say I don’t think I have ever replied to a ‘marketing’ email that did not have a great hook. We need to engage our audience with a great subject line the POW, give them an offer of something they can’t refuse. Take Tesco as a good example, I have used the £10 off your next shop voucher countless times.

3. Personalisation
Which brings me onto one of the most important factors. Personalisation is not just about adding the recipient’s name to the top of the email. It’s about understanding you target market. With a good knowledge of your customers needs and wants, your emails should render dynamic content based on the segment of people you are sending it to. Do not underestimate the important role CRM plays in marketing.

4. Screen Real Estate
People receive and read emails in different ways and as the sender you need to be acutely aware of this. Some recipients open their email fully in Outlook, others use the preview pane, others on iPhones etc etc. This means that you need to get you key message in the top left corner of your design so it has the beat chance of being seen, no matter what device the recipient is using.

5. Follow Up
Sadly, in my experience this is rare. I must get 30+ marketing emails a day and perhaps only 1-2 followed by a phone call. It is however those 1-2 that get my attention as they usually prompt me to revisit the email in my inbox. It’s the lack of professional follow-up that is usually at the centre of failing campaign, invest the time to do this properly and you will be more successful.

Next time you create a campaign review these 5 steps and see if you have them covered. Good luck

Download Native American Flute Lullabies Free Now

2012-01-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

For those looking for a nice and free way to start 2012, there's free MP3s to download right now on Amazon.com. You will need to hurry though as the free download offer ends this week.

You don't have to buy anything - just select the whole CDs or any of the songs you are interested in and start downloading. If you are not familiar with any of the songs, there's a sample player on the site to help you listen before you start downloading. Who cares anyway, the whole thing is free so if you are not happy with the songs, just delete.

I have downloaded some of the songs myself so I thought I would put it up here in case anyone is interested. I believe in sharing - especially when it's online and free.

Why pay for something when you can get it for free - I say.

Hurry over here and start downloading NOW.

Holidaying In Europe With the Family

2011-12-30T07:20:00.000-08:00

How's everyone doing? Hope you all had a nice Christmas holiday and looking forward to a happy and joyous new year. For me, mine was awesome. I spent the holiday with the family and finally made it to Paris for our anniversary.

We have been planning on going away to France since 2009, but didn't manage to afford it. The economy was bad and the fear of losing one's job was always a big thought. Luckily, we've all managed to sail through and still keeping our jobs.

So, to celebrate how lucky we've been... we thought we would go away to a romantic and exotic place. There's no better place that Paris.

But just before that, we dropped in London on our way and spent 3 days in the beautiful city. Visited lots of places such as Buckingham Palace, Leicester Square Cinema, the Tower of London and the world famous Harrods. You can't visit London and not see these places. They are what make it a great city - lots of history and architecture.

One thing thought that I notice is that the Kindle Fire has not been released in Europe, so if like me you are travelling to Europe, be sure to download Totally Free kindle Books here as you will not be able to get them in Europe.

We are still in Paris and hope to leave on Tuesday. I will post our holiday pictures next week.

Samsung UN46D8000 46-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D LED HDTV

2011-12-26T04:16:00.000-08:00

When I decided to replace my old digital projection TV I did my homework by doing tons of research and read tons of reviews and ended up buying the PN64D8000. After 2 weeks of watching it I can honestly say that I was never been so disappoint with a "top of the line" product from any brand at any price point as I have been with that TV and decided to return it for the UN60D8000. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made because the UN60D8000 simply crushes the quality of the PN64D8000.

SAMSUNG UN60D8000 vs PN64D8000
The overall image brightness of the PN64D8000 was about 20% darker than any other TV I have ever owned so the picture ended up looking dull and didn't pop off the screen the way I had hoped it would. That overall brightness problem was also complicated by a brightness throttle built into the TV that keeps the picture at or below a fixed intensity. This throttle causes huge consistency problems as some scenes will look perfect and then and you see it kick in when the majority of screen has really light or white content and the TV keeps it from displaying a pure crisp white and instead it throttles it back so you get a muddy light grey. Before anyone tries to tell tell me it was a calibration problem I know that I work professionally in the film and video industry and I know how to calibrate a TV so this was not a problem with the settings.

If you read the review on televisioninfo.com so will see that they tested the peak brightness of the PNXXD8000 plasma vs. the UNXXD8000 LED and the plasma scored a 90.43 cd/m2 while the LED scored a 357.93 cd/m2 which is nearly four times as bright.

The UN60D8000 is the complete opposite as the picture is bright with pure whites and has the best overall quality I have ever seen on any TV. It handles day to day TV watching through DireTv incredibly well as the picture looks fantastic but when you watch a Bluray this TV is just jaw dropping.

OVERALL DESIGN AND SMART HUB
There is no denying that this TV looks beautiful with it's thin edge and it's slim design makes it look fantastic when you out it on the wall. I ended up hanging mine on the wall because the four legged TV stand made me nervous as it was stable side to side but it seemed like it could tip over fairly easily front to back. The Samsung Smart Hub is a nice addition but if I am going to surf the web I would rather do it on my laptop and I found that services like Hulu Plus and Netflix had better picture quality when I ran them on my Playstation 3 vs the Smart Hub. I do use the Yahoo! Smart Apps fairly regularly as it is an easy way to check the weather, items on eBay and the latest tweets without having to flip away from what you are watching.

SMALL BLACK LEVEL UNIFORMITY ISSUES
There are a lot of reviews that knock with TV for it's black level uniformity and there is some validity to this but having now owned both of Samsung's top of the line TV's I can tell you they both have a some issues. Most plasma's will throttle back the white level but I never saw one as bad as the muddy and dull whites of the PN64D8000 plasma. At the same time any edge lit LED will have a problem where the edges will look a little lighter than the middle and you get a little of this on the UN60D8000.

This TV does have a little of this problem but you will only see when the screen is completely black and on mine it looks like a subtle gradient that goes from a very dark grey to black running right to left. For me this slight black level problem was A LOT more acceptable than the dull and muddy white point on their plasma which just wrecked my watching experience for TV, Bluray and PS3. If you calibrate your UN60D8000 you can pretty much totally eliminated the black level problem.

I'M NOT A FAN OF 3D BUT THIS MIGHT CHANGE MY MIND
I have always thought that 3D was just a gimmick for movie studios to charge more for movie tickets and the movies I have seen with in the theaters never changed my mind. This TV came with two pairs of 3D glasses and I threw my the 3D version of Tron Legacy in to try it out and I have to say it was better than any 3D experience I've ever had in any movie theater. I was when I tried the 3D out with Killzone 3 on Playstation 3 that I saw how really cool this could be. 3D gaming on this TV is really fun and it is something I will be doing on a regular basis.

PS3 'MODE NOT SUPPORTED' ISSUE'
The one issue I have with the TV is an issue I never saw in any review and only found out about after I purchased the TV which is that there is an issue between Samsung LED TV's and gaming consoles especially the Playstation 3. When you plug in your Playstation some of the time you will see the TV display an error message suddenly saying 'Mode not supported'. I have done a a lot of research and testing to find out that there is an issue with the rate that Sony sends the HDMI signal to the TV which makes for a 'handshake' problem between the two devices.

Some people seem to have been able to fix this problem by buying a more insulated HDMI cable but I bought a top of the line cable and it had no effect. There is a simple solution where you can simply turn the TV off for a few seconds and then when you turn it back on it works perfectly. I am investigating if a HDMI signal detective will help fix this problem and I will update the review if I find a solution.

The Help - New Release

2011-12-05T14:07:00.000-08:00

"Courage sometimes skips a generation. Thank you for bringing it back to our family." Skeeter (Stone) moved back home to Mississippi so she can get some experience writing for a paper before she can move to New York. When she gets a job answering letters about cleaning she asks one of the maids for help answering them.

A simple job about cleaning turns into something major that changes the course of the town. This is a very difficult movie to watch, but this is a must see. The subject matter will infuriate you and the Hillary character is one of the best movie villains to come along in awhile. For a movie that at its most basic level is about interviewing people for a book it is very engrossing and moves along pretty quick.

This is a very emotional movie that will leave you thinking and wondering how you would have behaved in that situation. The cast and acting alone is worth watching for. Emma Stone gives a great performance and is hard to believe this is the same girl that was is "Superbad".

Overall, the first real Oscar contender for best picture and numerous acting awards to come along this year. A definite must see. I give it an A.

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition with Blue Eyed North Pole Pixie-Elf

2011-12-03T00:44:00.001-08:00

I was a little hesitant purchasing The Elf on the Shelf, because I don't try to focus Christmas entirely on the Santa aspect, but more on the giving aspect. I broke down and got one this year figuring if I really didn't like it or thought it put too much emphasis on gifts that I could tell my son that Santa decided he was good enough he didn't need to send the elf for following years. The night after Thanksgiving our Elf landed on our mantel.

I called my son (almost 4) and daughter (22 months) in the room and my husband and I read the book to them and explained the process and rules of our new house guest. I never could've imagined how interactive this little guy would be.

My son insisted that his name is Elfey, and is so excited to talk to him every morning. He is genuinely concered about how is trip was and if he got too cold. I absolutely love listening to their one-sided conversation. He knows that if he is naughty Elfey will have to tell Santa and that he may not get his Santa gift this year.

The only downside I can see is that my son is already sad at the thought that Elfey will go back to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve and will be gone for an entire year...Hopefully the gift Santa leaves will alleviate this dreaded time.

This doll is a great size big enough that my kids can spot him no matter where he decides to land for the day, but small enough that he can fit in/on anything, he even decided to perch on our Christmas tree one day. He has a great little face that adds a lot of character and life to the little doll. The book says the kids aren't allowed to touch the elf, which is why it's okay that Elfey isn't the most durable "toy" around. I have no doubt he will be more than able to survive the years of perching around my house for my kids and possibly even grandkids.

Black Friday and Cyber Week Special

2011-11-21T14:08:00.000-08:00

Discover and Link to Holiday Events
Have you seen our new Holiday Offers Page at Associates Central? Discover Amazon Holiday store fronts and promotions happening in November and December all in one location and quickly get text links and banners. Earn up to 15% advertising fees.
Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday Week Starting November 21st, the Holiday Offers Page has all the premier Black Friday special promotions. Below is a summary of the special promotions, gift guides and other events happening right now.

Big Holiday Events
* Holiday Deals - Black Friday and Cyber Week
* The Holiday Toy List – Hundreds of this year’s best gifts for Children
* The Christmas Corner: Holiday Decor, Tableware and Entertainment
* Holiday Gift Guide – Gourmet gift baskets, chocolates, cheeses and more for every occasion
Electronics* The New Kindle Fire – Now Shipping!
* Black Friday Deals Week for GPS, Car Electronics, MP3 Players and Consumer Electronics
* Wireless - All Phones sold with a plan for a penny and $100 Amazon.com Gift Card on Select Phones

Media
* Books Gift Guides – Adults, Kids and Teen
* Movies and TV Best Sellers and Deals
* Holiday Music - Playlists and Classics
* Video Game Best Sellers, New Releases and Deals
Home, Kitchen and Garden
* Home, Kitchen and Garden Gift Guide
* Buyer’s Guides -Espresso Makers, Juicers, Cuisinart Food Processors and Kitchen Aid Mixers
* Holiday Baking Store
* Grocery and Gourmet Foods - Including Gift Baskets

Auto and Home Improvement* Tools – Up to 50% off top name brands and popular items
* Black Friday Automobile Deals
* Lawn and Garden Gift Guide

I love my Kindle Fire

2011-11-19T08:47:00.000-08:00

I'm very impressed with the Kindle Fire, I was so thrilled when i heard about the price of it. Since 2009 I have been a True Kindle fan, it has changed my life of the way I read, and now we have the Kindle Fire that will also change the way I listen to music and watch films, and TV programming.

Lets start with the video. Wow Hulu+ looks and works great on this, I have it on my PS3 also and it is really buggy on the PS3 but on the Kindle no problems at all. Great picture and sound and easy to navigate. Netflix seems to run very well also other than every once in a while you hear a slight click in the audio. As for Amazon Streaming video it is where this Machine really shines. With a free month of Prime you get plenty of films and TV shows to watch for Free. With a click of the button within seconds you have the movie in amazing clarity and sound in the palm of your hand. Super Troopers was the first movie i watched and was a lot of fun, nice to be able to stop it at any point and then start it right back up where you left off. A nice feature is having it in your carousel so all you have to do is press on it to resume the playback. Side loading video from you own collection is very easy also just plug in the USB to you computer just drag and drop.

Music: What can I say but yes i'm in heaven with Amazon and their cloud service I think it was April when they announced the whole cloud service for music and then they offered unlimited cloud service and thats all it took. I have an obsession for music and have a failing hard drive with over 200 Gigs of music from my collection. So since May I have been uploading my entire music collection to Amazon Cloud and now with a Wifi connection I have all the music at my finger tips with the Kindle Fire. If i'm going to be on the road I can easily hit a button and zoom the music is downloaded to the Fire.Yes it is a dream come true. The ease of just popping on over to the store while listing to the music is all right there.

Apps: Along with Amazon's mention of the cloud service they also gave us an app store with a FREE app of the day that I usually start my day checking out and purchasing since the opening just to have plenty of Apps to go with the then rumored Kindle Tablet. Well the day is here and I have plenty of Apps to play with on the Fire. Games, utilities, art programs. they all run great on the Kindle Fire. I also have a Dell Streak tablet and the apps on it are so so sometimes it works other times it just sits there. The Kindle Fire always boots them up and your on your way.

Web: It is nice to sit on the couch or at the kitchen table and surf the web, It seems very quick and easy to me I enjoy it just sometime I forget the ability is there right on the Fire.

Books: Well here we go back in 2009 i purchased my first Kindle 2 and instantly became a true addict to reading again. Having Dyslexia reading has always been so hard and it took me forever to read a Dead Tree book but then the Kindle came out with the ability to adjust the type size and the line spacing and it was like being reborn I was able to finally read without using my finger following each and every word. Now with the Fire not only do you have the ability to adjust the txt, We also get to be immersed in full color graphics and photos. Reading on the Fire is also a lot of fun with a tap of the finger you can read the definition of a word with in seconds. If thats not enough you can link it right to Google of Wikipedia and explore more.

I just love going to the book shelf section and enjoying all the cover art of the books. Your done with a book you are just a tap away from browsing the Amazon Kindle store. The ease of syncing up across all of you Kindle's is just another amazing way Amazon has changed the way we read and enjoy all other forms of media. Sure there a few flaws but it all can be fixed in a firmware update. I hope they put the Twitter posting capability in the reading app into the Fire OS along with the ability to see popular highlights. But those are a few minor things.

I hear from others that the battery life is not up to what the iPad offers? I have no problems with the battery life, consider you can buy two Kindle Fires and still save a $100 over the iPad price and then get 14 hours of battery life. I love my eInk display but the Fire is also another great way to read and have all your media at your finger tips.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 breaks sales records

2011-11-12T23:46:00.000-08:00

Activision, the game's publisher, said that Modern Warfare 3 sales had totalled more than $400 million (£250m) in the first 24 hours in Britain and the United States alone. The game went on sale worldwide on Friday.

“We believe the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the biggest entertainment launch of all time in any medium, and we achieved this record with sales from only two territories,” said Bobby Kotick, the chief executive of Activision Blizzard.

He added that the total sales for the Call of Duty series exceeded the box office takings for the Star Wars and Lord of the Rings film series.

More than 13,000 shops around the world opened at midnight to sell the game, which sold more in its opening 24 hours than its rival, Battlefield 3, sold in its first week.

Modern Warfare 3 players have since broken the Xbox Live record for the number of players online at the same time, according to Microsoft.

The game begins where Modern Warfare 2 left off, with special forces protagonists pursuing Vladimir Makarov, a Russian terrorist, in cities including London, Paris and New York.
The game has been awarded an 18 certificate from the BBFC due to its graphic violence and real-world settings.
The game attracted some controversy over a scene set in London that shows an Underground train being blown up. There were calls for the scene to be removed because of an alleged similarity to the London bombings of July 2005.

The BBFC did not require any scenes to be removed but did point out that the game is "completely inappropriate" for children This year's release coincides with the launch of Call of Duty Elite, an online subscription service. Annual membership costs £34.99 and gives players extra downloadable content and competitions. Players can also access a free version that offers stats and the ability to arrange games with fellow players.

This year's edition broke the record set by its predecessor, Call of Duty: Black Ops, in 2010, which in turn broke the record set by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in 2009.
The Call of Duty series has been running since 2003 and more than 100 million copies of its various titles have now been sold.

Kindle vs. iPad

2011-11-12T03:35:00.000-08:00

According to Amazon, Kindle Fire is a premium product, offered at a non-premium price. It brings everything they’ve been working on at Amazon for 15 years - Kindle, Amazon Instant Video, Amazon MP3, Amazon Prime, Amazon Appstore, and Amazon Web Services - together into a single, fully-integrated experience for customers.

But do they really match the power, style, performance that Apple's products provide and we've all come to expect from smart devices? Well, they've put up a nicely written document which compares the two devices side by side. It makes a very nice reading especially if you've been wondering which of the two to buy for Christmas.

As someone who has an iPad already, it's quite fascinating to actually see how much they have in common and not only size, but in features and functionality.

See the whole Kindle vs iPad here. This might just change how you've always looked at products before because the retail price of a product does not necessarily mean it packs much better punch.

If you were thinking of buying an iPad in the next few weeks or months, you might want to read the comparison document to be sure you are not throwing away your hard earned cash.

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson - [Hardcover]

2011-11-06T02:49:00.000-08:00

I adored reading this book on my latest Kindle Fire 3G Wireless device. Many people have pointed out its faults, and one I will agree with is that at times it is repetitious. But for me, whom worked in the entertainment business and was a tech geek, in many parts it was a walk down memory lane. My first computer when I arrived at college was a used Apple III. I was the only one on my floor to have a computer, so many people used it. It lasted about 3 years, then the "C" key broke when I was writing a paper on "Marconi and the influence teens had on the invention of radio." I had to write the whole paper using as little C's as possible, but I still had to go into the final draft and pen in all the C's in Marconi's name.

I then got a Window's based computer, used again, while my friends were getting Mac's. It was clear to me then that the Mac was better, but I had what I had, and it turned me into a "hacker." By the time I finished college in the early 90's, I was switching and adding more ram, adding graphics cards, worrying about the fan, switched to a new motherboard, etc. etc. etc.

Then Napster came around and I was downloading music. I only had dial up at the time, so I would set up my computer to download songs all night line over an open phone line while I slept. Remember download times. I worked for a major studio at the time, and I remember the funniest stern memo that came out that voiced outrage at the fact that they had found that most of the work computers had at least one program on it for "stealing" music. People were "stealing" music at work from their own company!!! I just couldn't figure out why the studios and their music companies were not working on ways to make it easier to buy music online rather than prosecuting 12 year olds and trying to encode each song with an electronic booby-traps.

Nonetheless, I went the Frye's hacking route for way too long. Finally after having so much trouble with my windows crashing with my itunes software, I bought a MacBook. Wow. What a machine. I'm on my 3rd iPod, my 2nd MacBook, my second iPhone, and now I want an iPad.

I guess all of this doesn't have much to do with the book. It is my own experience. It's history though, and a history completely shaped by the characters in this book, especially Mr. Jobs.

1Q84 [Hardcover] - by Haruki Murakami

2011-11-06T02:35:00.000-08:00

On January 22, 1984, in what has become an iconic moment in advertising history, the first Apple Macintosh computer was introduced to the world. Striking a cinematic blow against an Orwellian Big Brother figure haranguing a grey and faceless army of brainwashed drones, an attractive and athletic young woman eludes pursuing stormtrooper guards and heroically hurls an iron hammer that shatters Big Brother's huge black and white telescreen, ending oppression, freeing everyone--changing the world. The voiceover intones--"1984 will not be like 1984."

1984. You know--the dystopian novel by George Orwell written in 1948 that depicts a nightmare no-hope future where everything is rotten and nobody ever has a nice day.

Rewind your cassette tape. On an average spring day in central Tokyo, April 1984, an impeccably attired, attractive young woman, Masumi Aomame, late for a very important appointment but marooned in a taxi on a hopelessly jammed elevated expressway, takes an extreme measure. At the suggestion of her slightly odd driver, she escapes the highway using a little-noticed rickety emergency exit to street level underneath a prominent Esso put-a-tiger-in-your-tank billboard. Before departing the cab, the driver cautions that if she does this, "Things may look different to you than they did before. I've had that experience myself. But don't let appearances fool you. There is always only one reality." And with that, while Leos Janacek's Sinfonietta booms ominously on the taxi's high-end FM radio, Aomame enters a world where there are two moons in the night sky and everything she knows is wrong--to her 1984 will not be like 1984, it will be 1Q84. Magic.

With this bravura and memorable opening, Haruki Murakami's vast, ambitious but flawed novel of everything, 1Q84, leaves the flat earth world of conventional fiction and begins the long, sometimes thrilling and entertaining, slog to the far distant end of some nine hundred beautifully written and translated pages. Not unlike flying to Tokyo on the Concorde, taking the long way around with the airbrakes on.

So, the title: 1Q84. The Japanese word for the number nine is kyu. The year 1984 is thus spoken sen kyu-haku hachi-juu shi-nen. The use of the English letter Q is a multilingual pun, signifying to the Japanese reader (and should to anybody else), "we ain't in Kansas anymore."--Reality has changed, old rules don't necessarily apply. We see that a weird novella named Air Chrysalis is rewritten, conspiracies are hatched, passions explode, people die, lovers are lost, puzzles and questions posed. While 1Q84 is indeed a novel of everything, probing notions of reality, truth, death, religion, identity, time, connections, pop culture, anger, duality, mirrors and strange sex, (the novels of Thomas Pynchon or David Foster Wallace and the stories of Jorge Luis Borges come to mind), it is not an envelope-pushing, hard to follow postmodern pyrotechnical fizz-fest. At its heart, it is a love story, sometimes achingly romantic.

Our two protagonists, Aomame (a tough, outwardly cold chick who happens to be a very capable assassin of abusive men--think a Japanese Lisbeth Salander) and Tengo Kawana (a blandly quiet math teacher, novelist and ghostwriter), are both outsiders, both lonely. They are disconnected from each other and much of the world and have been since a long ago innocent grade school encounter was indelibly etched on their souls. They must traverse nine months in a strange new world filled with weird characters and baffling events, where, as in 1984, good days don't happen. Stand-ins for Orwell's Big Brother, the so-called Little People are maybe real, maybe unreal, and bizarre obstacles and complications must be overcome. Whether they know it or not, Tengo and Aomame are in love, and, like lovers everywhere, they must connect. Will they find each other? That is the venerable V-8 engine of the novel--though it is in much need of a slimmed-down tiger in its nine hundred-page tank.

But how does one edit a Japanese National Treasure, an acknowledged master of world literature, a writer perhaps in line for a Nobel Prize? How? Slashing lines, cutting entire episodes--go from here to there, eliminate that back-story, do we really need to know that? Or how about the long passages of half-baked arcana of that sinister religious cult--you lost me there. Let's off-load some unnecessary baggage, fly higher.

Murakami, though, is a wizard. Using a technique familiar to his loyal readers around the world, Murakami, developing his theme of duality and reflected identities, alternates the narrative's point of view chapter by chapter. He is convincingly inside Aomame's head, then Tengo's, and in Book 3 adds the dogged and froggish detective Ushikawa--only then does the novel finally achieve lift off. Murakami carefully braids the threads of the story, gradually tightening them like a Chinese finger trap, ultimately permitting the reader differing views of the same event, resulting in our seeing the action from a higher altitude, a crafty cinematic device. Throughout, each chapter's title is a fragment of a line in the narrative--a delightful motif that prompts an engaging bit of paging back and forth as the reader works to decipher Murakami's narrative trail of bread crumbs.

With a painstaking Japanese, perhaps Apple-like, attention to detail, the book itself is beautifully designed and produced. Fine paper, a lovely binding and a translucent moon grey rice-paper dust jacket with haunting frontispiece images of the twin moons of the story add to the proposition of the presence of a new world. Page numbers alternate, printing backwards, sometimes left hand, sometimes right. And the book's logo, 1Q84, is mirrored across facing margins, reflecting itself, helping to produce an effective and unique coherence to the novel as a complete package.

And yet. The magic and promise of the opening chapter, the image of the elegant Aomame descending that fragile stairway into the heart of a gritty new Tokyo, is not sustained over the many miles in the long distance flight of this novel. The slim and beautiful Concorde flew fast and high. But the fat and beautiful 1Q84 aspires to do more, to fly us to the moon--too bad it staggers under its own weight, never quite leaving the orbit of this flat earth.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

2011-11-05T01:48:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed the movie. It was fun, entertaining and really tied things up well, the movie deserves 4 stars, however!!!. The reason for this post is the HORRIBLE Ultraviolet copy, not a true digital copy. Ultraviolet streams the movie and dosn't use the now industry standards for Mac and Win. The movie is NOT stored on the computer as iTunes files or windows format video files. The movie streams from Flixter, which is horribly broken. If you dont have internet connectivity you cant watch the movie.

If you have a slow connection you loose frames for a horrible watching experience and if you pay for internet access by the megabyte you pay more then the movie costs on BluRay just to watch it once. It just dosn't work well.

Why is Warner Brothers changing a system people have become use to and a system for digital copies that most people like.. Ultraviolet is a solution where no problem exists. This is change that only WB and Flixter want. Digital format users are mostly happy with the system that has been developed, iTunes etc.

I have tried to contact WB to issue my complaint, to no avail. I did go to WB on Facebook and posted, along with only one other person, my dislike for Ultraviolet. I also recommend Amazon give feedback to WB of our dislike of Ultraviolet. I'm not a fan of ripping movies but it looks like that may be the only way to get WB movies in a digital format so we can watch the movie where and when we want and on what device we choose. Do what you can to avoid Ultraviolet and complain and complain often until they listen.

JBuds J2 Premium Hi-Fi Noise-Isolating Earbuds (Onyx Black)

2011-11-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

I brought this JBud earphones in March of this year and I notice about 2 weeks ago that they were splitting from cord to the plug. Well tonight it went bad, stopped working. I have just upgraded myearphones to a JBud J3. I hoped that the cord is better the 2nd time around. I can say that I was pleased with my choice that is why I upgraded my 2nd pair. I would really appreciate it if this cord is of better quality than my last purchase.

I enjoyed the sound of my music through the earphones. I also appreciated the color orange, it matched my Ipod to the tee. I would recommend the earphones just with knowing nothing last forever. And I will take my fault in how it went from my ear to my pocketbook back to my ear. Cord is not lasting. I would like for the company to make the cord out of a better material that will last with the way we try to put it away.

I would wrap my cord around my Ipod. Not in a forceful way but in a way to keep it together until it's next use.

Prodyne Fruit Infusion 93-Ounce Natural Fruit Flavor Pitcher

2011-10-29T05:23:00.001-07:00

Many of us don't drink enough water because of it's taste, and let's face it, 6-8 glasses of water a day is a lot of water if we're just not into it's taste.

NO, drinking soda and it's equivalent diet drinks is NOT the same thing because they all contain some form of sugar content, fake or real and really are not good for you.

What's the alternative? Put something in the water to make it more palatable and easier to drink and this just fits the bill.

Strawberries, Cherries, Blackberries, Pineapple, Lemons and whatever comes to mind to add a little taste to the water.

Water as you all know can do a lot for you, from losing weight to flushing out the toxins in your system. So, if that's what the doctor ordered, then this may make it easier to drink the stuff. LOL.

It does give the water some flavor, but don't expect it to be equivalent to drinking a real strawberry or a cherry soda because it just doesn't get that strong (in flavor) nor will it have enough sweetness to replace the real stuff.

So, that's why we use this Prodyne Fruit Infusion 93-Ounce Natural Fruit Flavor Pitcher
Very cheap and has revolutionise the way we now drink water in our household. I highly recommend it.

Griffin Technology GC16034 Elevator Laptop Stand

2011-10-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

I used a computer stand similar to this one (with a 13" Macbook) at a place of employment. When I needed my own, I started looking through my options and decided to go with this Griffin stand. I have a 15" MacBook Pro, and this stand works perfectly for it. The height is not adjustable, but at 5'3" the height is great for me. When my 6' husband tried it out, it was great for him too.

My laptop gets hot, so I appreciate the way that air is allowed to circulate all the way around the computer. It is also not bulky or an eyesore since I started using this Griffin Technology GC16034 Elevator Laptop Stand. In fact, I think it's barely noticeable on my desk. I can stuff my keyboard underneath it when I want to use more desk space. I also greatly appreciate that it can be easily disassembled for storage or packing if I need to relocate it.

Several of the reviews that I read mentioned that the stand loses its grip after a while. The one at work that I used previously never lost its grip even after several years of use. Having said that, I was still a bit concerned. BUT when this shipment came, there are two small clips that attach to the ends of the top of the stand that should prevent the laptop from sliding off. Griffin must have listened to its customers and made this improvement.

Kudos for that, Griffin. The only issue for me is that my CD insertion point is on the front right side, and one of the clips impedes the ease of use. I rarely use the drive, though, so it's a non-issue for me. If I were inserting and ejecting CDs all day, though, I would probably just not use the clip.

Overall, a great buy and reasonably priced.

Kindle, Wi-Fi, 6" E Ink Display - Bang For the Buck

2011-10-17T12:22:00.000-07:00

The new Kindle 4 is pretty sweet. It's weighs less than a paperback and can pretty much fit in your jean pocket (although I don't recommend it). For $79 bucks you get the smallest Kindle yet. One drawback is that you have to deal with ads and I have to say that I miss the old screen saves, but not enough to pay $109 for the ad-free model.

Another issue is with the keyboard, or lack thereof. I don't do much typing on the Kindle, which is why I elected to purchase this model, but still when I have to type something it's a pain. The Kindle 4 also lacks audio capability, so you cannot listen to music, audio books, or use text-to-speech. Honestly, who uses those features anyway?? The text-to-speech sounded like a great idea, but any time I tried using it my brain couldn't keep up with the speech.

My biggest gripe with the Kindle 4 is that Amazon cheaped out and didn't include the AC adapter. They include the USB cable only, which means you either have to charge it on a computer, or buy the adapter separately.

Again, it's all what you're looking for in your Kindle. If you really need to type and use the audio functions then wait for the touch model to come out; if you're looking for a cheap, super light, and small e-reader it's hard to go wrong with the Kindle 4 for $79 bucks!

But if you are looking for the Kindle that has all the features that rivals iPad, then look no further than this Kindle Fire.

Almost Free: Panasonic VIERA TC-P50GT25 50-inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV

2011-10-13T13:09:00.001-07:00

This is the first Panasonic TV I have ever owned. After this experience, I will seek out Panasonic for future purchases, and I would order through Amazon again.

Several months ago (Jan. 2011), I spent more time than anyone should researching which model should be my first flat panel TV - yes, I was the last person in America to buy a flat panel (I had a rare Sony tube with impeccable HD picture quality). I learned that there were 47 different models to choose from just in the 46-50 inch category across the major manufacturers. LCD/LED/Plasma/DLP... Daunting.

My primary goal was that I wanted exceptional picture quality. My secondary goal - I really wanted exceptional picture quality - not explanations to why I was finding fault with what I was seeing on the screen. Sports, movies, nature shows, gaming. 3d was intriguing, but not a priority. Most high end sets with strong picture quality are going to have 3d, which is how I ended up with the p50gt25. There was lots of press and raving about the next model up, the VT25, but the p50gt25 finds a perfect sweet spot of quality and price.

I started reading about detailed information, advanced testing, gritty technical details. I thought I needed that information to make the right selection. Maybe I did, but in the end I'm not a guy who brings a set home and runs excessive tests to see if they meet the advertised benchmark data. I'm a guy who watches the TV and either finds fault (and regret) with what I see or I enjoy a visually stimulating experience.

8 month in and I still find myself in awe of the picture quality on this TV. My wife is tired of hearing me mutter "I really love this TV." Absolutely no regrets, this was the right TV for me. Highly recommended.

I will admit that the sound on this set probably falls short of what other models are capable of. A non-issue when I watch movies or gaming through the surround system. Sound wasn't nearly as important for me as picture quality. Also, I've spent maybe 2% of my time on this set with 3d content, and I'd say it's a mixed bag, but that seems to be as much related to the content as the TV. Avatar was very enjoyable. Some scenes within the content are stunning, others not so much. I understand Panny has new glasses models that brighten the 3d image, and I'd be interested in that. If 3d is your top priority, I can't properly comment on how this set compares other than to say that my experience is fairly enjoyable.

Some advice - don't judge picture quality in a retail store. Don't even try to. Bad TVs will look good, good TVs may look bad. There's a reason why they most expensive models are in a dark room set up in a way where there isn't 4 other TVs around it in your line of site. And get that picture mode off "Vivid" as soon as you get it home! As a photographer, I find the THX mode is the right setting for me to accentuate colors while not losing details in the shadows for impeccable picture quality.

I do more online shopping than most, but was hesitant on this purchase. Even tried to get local retailers to come close to the price Amazon had on the bundle, but they wouldn't. I made the leap, ordered through Amazon - delivery and setup were flawless. Excellent experience, highly recommended, AND saved a lot of money.

The New Kingston 8GB Micro SD HC - Class 4

2011-10-08T07:46:00.001-07:00

I bought this card initially as a replacement for the microSD that came with my phone (a Samsung 4GB Class 2 - see below re classes) as recording HD video was very laggy as write speeds were too low. Upon inserting this the change was noticed immediately - copying files to/from my PC were much quicker and HD video recorded smoothly allowing the sound and video to remain in sync.

I immediately bought another for my digital camera, which actually requires a standard SD size card, but this product comes with an adapter that you insert the microSD so there were no problems fitting it with any device that required microSD or standard SD size card.

Please note that this will NOT fit in a miniSD device. It is also an 'SDHC' card, so your device will have to specifically support SDHC and will not work in a device that only supports 'SD' (this includes any card readers attached to your computer!)

Overall, this card provides you with plenty of memory for your files, songs, photos etc and all at an affordable price. Kingston haven't let themselves down either by maintaining high read and write speeds, even for a Class 4 card.

(Those not familiar with classes - the scale typically goes from Class 1 to Class 10. The higher the class, the higher the performance/faster read and write speeds. Class 4 is typically standard and will suit most digital camera, phones, MP3 players. More detail can no doubt be found with a quick Google.)

JBuds J4 Rugged Metal In-Ear Earbuds Style Headphones with Travel Case

2011-10-06T12:48:00.001-07:00

I just got these today and I am very excited about them. Comes with many head phone tips and a really nice case. I have two pairs of premium head phones that broke. Not that they weren't good they lasted a year a piece with heavy use. But before i got these i thought the Zune headphones were the best headphones I ever used, equaling to the Bose in ear buds in my opinion. But I was proven wrong. These sound even better.

When you get to the those deep base frequencies they rock your head like you are listening them by a good speaker set up. Theses are way above the league of those cheap skull candy head phones everyone buys, (because they like the bandwagon.) I say these are up to par with my Sennheiser HD 428, 201 if not better.

I haven't even given sometime to burn them in yet but they still sound great.

The build is very solid with out sacrificing its nice sleek curves.
Comfort could be better but i wont complain if they sound this good I did not like the ear bud tips that came with them so I put the Zune Premium head phone tips on instead and they feel better, must have grown accustomed to them.)

There have been some reviews about broken earbuds but i hope you can give them another chance because these are really great headphones.

PS. Zune Rules

The New Amazon Kindle

2011-10-03T12:30:00.001-07:00

I got myself a Kindle a few months ago, and loved it so much I bought my mom one for her birthday last month. I also got the leather cover, and while I still sometimes get the urge to turn it over to check book description (old habits!), I honestly can't even remember how I managed without it.

Things I love:

* Buying books at good prices directly from my device (takes minutes, literally!)
* Rediscovering my Stephen King phase and finding all his classics in the Kindle store
* The text to speech function - makes me laugh every time, and is useful too
* Being able to read with just one hand, turning pages with my pinky if I have a cup of coffee in the other hand
* Instant set up, which meant not having to do anything to get started

The only remote issue I have had has cleared up. The first week or two after I got it, my Kindle froze a few times. Rebooting cleared it up, and it hasn't happened since then.

For those wondering whether to make the transition from paperback to digital... just do it! You will never look back, especially if you are an avid reader like me.

Apple Magic Trackpad

2011-09-28T12:37:00.001-07:00

I purchased the Magic Trackpad to take full advantage of the new gestures in Lion. The trackpad is the same size as my Apple Wireless Keyboard, although not as wide. It is much larger than a normal laptop trackpad. Because of the slight angle to it when resting on a desk, you can rest your hand comfortably and use your fingers to navigate.

One thing I have not totally gotten used to is the "clicking" behavior of the trackpad. The trackpad on my older Macbook Pro still has a physical button that you press with your thumb to click. The trackpad (and all recent Mac laptops) "click" by pressing down the entirety of the trackpad itself. Alternatively, you can adjust the settings so that a tap on the surface of the trackpad activates a click on the screen.

Because of the awkwardness of depressing the entire trackpad, I've begun to use this as the default way to click. Unfortunately, it doesn't allow you to "click and hold" in order to move windows around the screen, etc. In those cases, you'd still have to use the physical action of pressing down on the trackpad.

Other than that one minor annoyance (that I will not doubt get used to), the pros far outweigh the cons. The ability to use all of my fingers to activate such a wide variety of functions within Lion is a delight.

Leg Avenue Women's Strappy Spandex Tube Dress

2011-09-17T02:23:00.000-07:00

Leg Avenue Women's Strappy Spandex Tube Dress - I had my doubts but I figured for the price, even if I never wore it, it would be fun just to try it on.
I'm a fairly big woman at 5'6" and 170 lbs. One-size things don't usually fit me. This thing does, and it looks great. Absolutely great. It's also comfy. I don't mind lounging around the house with it on.

If you need some attention from your man, here you go. This will be the perfect surprise for my boyfriend on his birthday! I was drawn to this strappy, sexy dress due to the many high reviews, but I was also worried because it only comes in one size, and I am a small person. I usually wear around a size 1 and sometimes generic sizes look really loose on me. Luckily this dress looks amazing and is form fitting, easy to wear, and comfortable! Nothing is exposed when I wear it and it's just perfect! I'm glad this dress is so versatile and fits all body types.

I fooled around and tried wearing it upside down and backwards. On me it seems to look best with the tag at the back of my neck, in other words, the proper way.

Leg Avenue should offer this thing in six colors. I would buy all six.

Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy

2011-09-17T02:12:00.001-07:00

Having recently read and reviewed Greg Lawrence's book Jackie as Editor: The Literary Life of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, I was eager to acquire and hear these interviews. I'm not sure how much new light they will ultimately shed upon the historical record of Kennedy's presidency, but they surely will confirm that the Kennedy's marriage was more than a mere public display; there is much evidence here of a deep marital intimacy and that the two genuinely respected and trusted one another on many levels.

It's also clear that Jackie's "thinking life" did not begin decades later with her career in publishing. Jackie's wispy voice is mesmerizing (as anyone who's watched the White House tour can attest). The interviews are easier to listen to than to read, but the book is nice to have for quick reference. It also includes a lot of rare photographs from the Kennedy White House years.

Now for my gripe. The audio CDs come in a rather flimsy sleeve. When my copy arrived in the mail, all the disks had fallen out of their sleeve and rattling around in the case. If this happens to you, check the disks carefully for scratches. (Mine seem to play okay). Also, it was very frustrating trying to transfer the interviews to my iPad so that they would play in sequence (I spent hours renaming the tracks.) Why don't audiobook publishers think of this?

OBi110 Voice Service Bridge and VoIP Telephone Adapter

2011-09-14T15:36:00.001-07:00

I was looking for a cost effective way to have a home phone for the kids to use after cutting the traditional land-line. By using Google Voice and Callcentric (for 911), this solved my issue.

I now pay around $1.50 per month for 911 service and nothing for Google Voice. Quality of call is good and I get all the nice features found with Google Voice. I tested the 911 service by first calling the counties non-emergency line and asking how to test. Then called 911 with the script they provided. They read me back my name and address and everything worked great.

Set-up wasn't that straightforward but there are some good online articles on the topic that will be a great help.

I do realize if the power goes out or if the Internet connection goes down, so does my ability to call. I am guessing that 99% of the time, we will be around when that happens and we can use one of our cell phones to call 911 if needed.

High marks on this device and am very pleased I don't have to be in another cell phone contract (or pay as you go) and don't have to pay the high monthly land-line fees. Not sure why anyone would go with Vonage either. There are other options on the market, but I think this VoIP Telephone Adapter is one of the best out there right now.

Rush 2112

2011-09-13T12:10:00.000-07:00

Ok, I bought this album later after I had Moving Pictures and Signals, and this is one of the better ones. I love this record and Rush is a band that has TRULY EARNED popularity. I'm not gonna get into this topic, but if you wanna know why, watch the documentary: Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. 2112 really captures what Rush had been trying to make since the addition of Neil Peart (Best Drummer in History). There won't ever be another voice even remotely close to Geddy Lee because no one in their right mind would wanna sing like that! I mean Geddy is amazing but I don't think anyone would wanna sing like that!

Music:

Back then, regardless of what those idiot critics said, this was a ground-breaking and innovative album; Rush have become the true masters of Progressive Rock.

1. 2112- This was the first epic I ever heard and it's also got the coolest drumming on anything that was made before Dream Theater, Symphony X, Kamelot, and Stratovarius were formed. Very good song!

2. A Passage to Bangkok- A catchy little tune...perfect for traveling. Haha!

3. The Twilight Zone- A slower paced song but never the less, a Rush Classic.

4. Lessons- It's an ok song, but I don't really care for it.

5. Tears- I LOVE this song! Until I heard this, I didn't know that Rush did ballads and pretty songs. This might just be the best song on the album! Yes even better than the very innovative 2112!

6. Something for Nothing- A pretty catchy song with a good message.

Verdict: A very good album from the 70's that deserves respect! If you like Dream Theater, Iron Maiden or any metal band, then you have to respect these guys because all metal looks back to these 3 dudes. Not kidding...the documentary has people that Rush influence on there like Mike Portnoy, Trent Razor, Jack Black, and the list goes on...

Very good album and I recommend it to prog fans and people who like 70's classics.

The Anansi Boys

2011-09-11T03:20:00.000-07:00

Anansi Boys is the follow-up to gold standard of modern fantasy - American Gods. Anansi Boys is a fun modern fantasy but it is not genious. The story of Charles "Fat Charlie" Nancy and his relationship with his deceased father and long-lost brother is engaging and creative. As in American Gods, the gods and characters from fable have life in the world around us. One of thoe gods - Anansi - is Charles Nancy's father.

Fat Charlie is a character adrift in modern society - hard working, diligent, uninspired. Anansi Boys is his story, and as much as anything it is about the growth Fat Charlie experiences thanks to the influence of those he meets. Fat Charlie's estranged relationship with his father, his unpleasant boss, his aggressive future mother-in-law all help to make Charlie a particularly easy character to empathise with. His is a warm and attractive character who develops in a very pleasing way.

Charlie's father Anansi does not feature much in the book but it is a really excellent character description. It is a little odd for those readers who might have grown up with Anansi stories to have them transposed away from their place of origin and given slightly alien features but Anansi as a soft-shoe shuffling charmer enjoying the easy life is great.

Charlie's brother Spider is the one who breaks open the narrative. Prior to Spider's arrival, the world is sane, senisble, and mundane. Spider is the sense of adventure and creativity that breathes life into the ongoing activities. He is designed as a contrast to Charlie but it is never that black and white. The conclusion of Spider's character arc is really disappointing in its lack of ambition and what Gaiman aspires to for him but Spider is a thoroughly enjoyable read.

The women of Anansi Boys are all a bit weird. The old crones in Florida are a nice take on the cabal and Callyanne Higgler in particular is entertaining, easily helped by her well constructed name which places her so easily in the reader's mind. Miss Dinwiddie is a bit of an archetype but she serves the story well as the source of much of the old wisdom and current tension Fat Charlie discovers. Of the two younger women, Rosie gets most of the coverage but as a paragon she is really not very interesting. Daisy is far more intriguing a character but she does not earn as many words. Daisy's parental backstory is the kind of aside that makes a book like this really good to read. The nationality of her parents is that extra touch of excellence and the combination of ultra capitalist Hong Kong and communist Ethiopia makes for an amusing reference point that presumably Gaiman meant to include. Maeve Livingstone and her affection for her husband Morris is a lovely character.

Anansi Boys is not though a work of genious. The dialogue is very clunky at times. In particular, Gaiman appears to have great difficulty describing the dialect of the Caribbean. The various West Indians and Floridians indicate their ethnicity mainly by swapping "are" for "is" as in "I is". While this may be a feature of the particular dialect, there is no roundness or believability to their use of language. This is probably because Gaiman does not offer the kind of insightful description of their speech to make up for the poor dialogue itself. Far too many of the characters have a distinctly British voice - the worst culprit is Tiger. This menacing force is built-up throughout the book as a fearsome physical representation of fear and dread. His foppish use of British English such as "Frankly...we appear to be stuck together" is the kind of understated Britishness that works very well for Hugh Grant characters but not for the personification of violence that is Tiger. Equally, Dragon is a strange character who seems to exist for one joke. Dragon is a raging beast who when foiled describes his circumstance with a menacing "Bother". Dragon should not be middle class English in any way. Dragons appear in many cultures of the world but really hardly in English tradition at all which makes Gaiman's Anglicising and class identifying of this character just horribly lazy.

What works extremely well about Modern Fantasy is when it is believable. A couple of lazy mistakes make disbelief a little harder. Gaiman clearly is not at all familiar with the Caribbean islands because St Andrews is not a viable name for an island. There are no single islands in the Caribbean with a plural name ending in English. Maxwell Gardens is a surprisingly rare name for a street in London but Gaiman really doesn't make the street identifiable so probably has never been to Maxwell Gardens. That oversight is perhaps why Gaiman had to use the clumsy term "main road" when describing how close Fat Charlie is to his apartment on one difficult evening. These details are lacking often through the novel which is a shame. They are not important to the flow of the story which is still a fun read but do mean that it just isn't as believable.

Where Gaiman references other works, it can work very well. The quote from Danny Glover's character in Lethal Weapon is an obvious but fun one. The reference to Kafka's Metamorphoses is one of the cleverest moments in Anansi Boys given the metamorphosing that some of the characters undertake. These and other references build the reality of the world the crazier events take place in. Other things are less impressive - Grahame Coats use of an Arnold J. Rimmer catchphrase does not fit the very different characters involved. The description of 'Binky' Butterworth's use of a very small lift is just a direct description of the lift scene in the home of Roger de Bris during The Producers. The lift is important for Gaiman's construction of a later event but it isn't especially creative to describe exactly a scene and character from another work without it being a reference point. Indeed, the entire story seems to have been "influenced" by a famous Chuck Palahniuk novel which was turned into an even more famous film. The line identifying the differences between Fat Charlie and Spider includes some of the exact same physical disparities in Palahniuk's pairing and that gives away what could possibly have been any kind of twist to the plotline.

However, there is one clear moment of genious - the description of the meaning of folk tales is absolutely excellent. The role of Anansi stories in celebrating innovation and creativity are a hallmark of the key change in human history that occurs with the rise of pastoralist communities of Bantu in Africa. Gaiman's insight into the role that folklore plays is absolutely superb.

The Headline Review publication does not do itself any favours at all with the additional material at the back of the book. The interview with Gaiman is a bit cringeworthy especially when Gaiman indirectly states that he is a genius. The suggested questions for book clubs are horribly academic. While it can be fun to realise at university that the way to pass exams is to state why the question being asked is incorrect, the questions here are far too dry and also full of assumptions. Book clubs are supposed to be fun.

All in all, Anansi Boys is a fun story with a less complex plot than might appear in the early going. It has some nice characters, some of whom are very endearing. The use of ancient folktales is good. It isn't really a great example of modern fantasy and the dialogue in particular is at times terrible. This is a nice, easy going novel with a thought provoking folklore comment tucked inside but it is not a masterpiece and does not compare favourably to Gaiman's American Gods.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition

2011-09-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

First of all, this book is meant for children; I hope people realize that.
Secondly, it is written for Witches and Wizards.

If one understands the above two points, and has their mind set into that particular demographic, they will appreciate this book immensely. Adults will enjoy it as well!

This is a collection of five stories, one could say fairy tales--the equivalent to our tales of 'Cinderella', 'Little Red Riding Hood', etc. Each read is snappy and ends with a moral to the story. The imagination of J.K. Rowling cannot be denied, she certainly knows how to tell unique and magical stories. The illustrations (hand-drawn by Ms. Rowling) make this book that much more beautiful.

It is a quick read (105 pages) and at the end I craved more, and so will you. Hopefully J.K. will expand on this in the future in some thicker volume.

I bought the British hardcover version used. The graphics of the front/back, along with the used quality made it seem like this book has been with me my entire life; it adds more character and charm to an already enchanting collection of stories. I hope to pass this to my (future) kids one day.

Highly Recommended. Also, a portion of the sales of this book will go to a wonderful charity.

Clark Howard's Living Large in Lean Times: 250+ Ways to Buy Smarter, Spend Smarter, and Save Money

2011-08-31T15:03:00.000-07:00

OK, we have all seen those books full of money-saving and penny pinching tips. This is yet another in that genre. But it's the newest, freshest and most up to date book in this genre, and many of the "same-old same-old" tips have been updated for our current financial hard times. Not only that, but there's a scattering of unique tips by "the worlds cheapest man".

If you are newly into penny-pinching this is an excellent book to get you started. If you are an experienced saver, you will still pick up some new tips and plenty of updates on the old stand-byes. Don't get me wrong- if you just bought one of his competitors books, you probably don't have to rush out and buy this one- but it couldn't hurt to take a look at Clark's book anyway.

There's 250 tips, some of which are "well sure" but many of which are "Why didn't I think of that!". Clark Howard covers insurance, prescriptions, utility savings, mortgages, cell phones, and even consumer fraud and identity theft. These last are part of what sets this book apart- sure those security tips are available elsewhere, but it's nice having them all in one easy to read book.

I do note that one idea- that of getting your MD to prescribe larger doses of your daily meds then cutting the pills in half is something my MD isn't crazy about. But Howard has several other ideas that could save you a nice chunk of change every month.

Note also that Clark Howard has a rather interesting and useful website, with synopsis of his radio & TV shows and appearances, consumer tips, and even monthly bargain topics.

The book is written in a friendly and easy to read manner.

In My Time: A Personal and Political Memoir

2011-08-31T14:59:00.000-07:00

Before September 11, VP Cheney, our public employee, met in the White House (our public building) with some influential gentlemen from the private sector.

Despite using our facilities, our employee declined to name those participants, who sat on our furniture.
And the media? You're doing a heckuva job, Brownie! This is something you can not find out for us? Too busy being spoonfed?

I'd prefer to hear Colin Powell's commentary, as he did last weekend, saying he was sent into the United Nations with bad information.

We can still recall Adlai Stevenson going to the UN to warn of the missile installations in Cuba. At that time, he brought out huge photographs of the actual equipment and locations. You will recall Powell showed up, how many decades later?, with nice computer-generated graphics. Hunh?

And the media, about that? Zzzzzzzzzzzz. Too busy being spoon-fed, or spoofed, at best. If you can believe what Cheney says and does, find out who visited him. If he's so innocent, what does he have to fear?

Good luck, Mr. Phelps!

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

2011-08-20T06:09:00.000-07:00

Most of Richard Paul Evans books are sweet stories that teach values and are a couple of tissues at the end. I have all his books, and have read them all. However this book is different. Fresh and filled with action that is far from his past style.

Action packed, thriller, science fiction elements, young romance, humour, youthful.... you name it, this book has it for everyone. I am thrilled with this book, and may even let my grandchild that is a science freak borrow it. I can only hope that Richard makes a series out of this. And that the movie will be coming out soon. This book makes reading fun for everyone. Young and old can discuss this book, so it bridges the age gap like few other books do.

I can recommend it for a book to tuck into your bag to savour like a good piece of chocolate. And share it if you like, or not!!

My Weekend Reading List

2011-08-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm reading Michael Holroyd's excellent A Book of Secrets at the moment. It's rather making me want to read Violet Trefusis, who figures greatly in the book, but who is also (almost?) entirely out of print. (Paging Persephone. Paging NYRB. Paging Neversink.)

But I also had a bit of a geek out moment when he casually mentions his wife, Margaret Drabble. I just read some Margaret Drabble! And loved it! Is it weird to be happy that two authors you enjoy reading are married? Like when I learned Susie Orbach and Jeanette Winterson are a couple.

Gossipy and probably stupid, but still.
But another reason I like A Book of Secrets so much is that he tells the history of these figures through the "women of no importance": the mistresses, the discarded fiancees, the dead wives. Here he is talking in the Guardian a few years back about why he likes writing about women. "I like extraordinary characters, I like irregularity, extreme things happening.

6 New Rules to Reinvent Your Brand and Reignite Your Business

2011-08-15T12:35:00.000-07:00

From the moment I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. It was fast and fun as well as well as interesting and completely through.

Not only that, I found it helpful for my company and chock full of ideas.

This book helped me to re-focus on our core brand. It stimulated me to get back to the office and concentrate my energies on all of the new ideas the book contained. I believe that "The Old Rules of Marketing are Dead" can be a springboard for us to continue the changes we need to make in this tough economic environment for a communications and media company to survive and prosper.

This is something that everyone that owns or would like to own a business should read. Very informative!! Highly recommend.

Free 3G + Wi-Fi Kindle with New E Ink Pearl Technology

2011-08-13T05:09:00.000-07:00

I love this reader. I was able to adjust the font size such that I can easily read even without my glasses. I am allergic to dust. I don't have itchy fingers as I often get when reading traditional paper books. I no longer have a runny nose as I would have when I'd read with a book too close to my face. I often did this as I prefer to read without glasses.

I enjoy being able to see the highlights other readers have made when reading. This gave me an unexpected interactive component to the book. It seems silly but I find joy knowing that others found a phrase, sentence, or paragraph exciting or profound.

I also like how it syncs with other devices. I can pick up my phone, laptop, and desktop and continue where I left off on my kindle. The built-in dictionary has greatly increased my vocabulary. My scrabble friends should beware!

Topeak Explorer Bike Rack

2011-08-06T14:30:00.000-07:00

This rack is a really sturdy rack and has plenty of surface area to mount medium gym bag with no issues. I got it because it has the strip down the middle to use as a small fender and the accessories that Topeak has for it. It has a mount for a light for which I mounted a Blackburn MARS nicely. For days when i had to take something with more bulk to work I would bungee a milk crate to it. Make sure it is on tight or it will slide off the side. Unfortunately the MTX rails in the middle would eat into the crate. Topeak has a MTX folding crate that will roll behind. I recommend it.

I picked up this rack from the LBS some months ago and mounted it on my Mens Schwinn High Timber 26 inch. This rack is a great fit for this bike. I ran into the same issue as another reviewer with this bike concerning the mounting screws for the bottom of the rack. The bike has bigger holes than the screws so I too went to Lowes to pick up some new bolts. The instructions listed sizes of the hardware so I picked up the same size of bolts but longer to use a lock nut on them (I didn't want to have to drill out the holes).

I mounted them bolt head on the inside and nut on the outside. Worked great until I realized that the bolt head would rub the chain in the lowest gear. Taking a file to the bolt head to trim it down some did the trick.

Schwinn 17-Function Bike Computer

2011-08-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

I honestly can't believe this cost me only $10. And for me it was free because I used some of my
Amazon credit
The little thing works just fine. I've had it for about a month now, and I've never been frustrated with it. Although the instructions were a bit hard to understand sometimes, installation was no hassle. It took me 10 minutes to set up the whole thing. You can just run to your bike and install it, since it comes with the plastic ties you need for holding the things in place, and also with a battery.

I usually use the speedometer, odometer, and clock, but I just set it on scan so it goes through the whole thing. To be honest I didn't need all 17 functions, but it doesn't hurt to have it.
The thing turns off after 5 minutes of non-use, and you can take the computer off when you're done riding (which I love, because people steal things around here if they're just hanging). The computer was smaller than I thought, but that was a plus for me because it doesn't take up space.

Overall, I just am so happy I got this. For the price I think I got a great deal. It could be $20 or $25 if you ask me, considering how much it does and how easy it is to use. I don't know much about technology so I can't be sure that it could be that much, but I really think it could fly for a higher price. If you're a daily biker just looking for a practical little computer that does the basics for you (I never understand why they have the calories and fat-burning functions), I would recommend this. Oh and shipping was prompt, as usual.

HTC HD2 T8585 Unlocked Phone with Touch Screen

2011-08-01T12:09:00.001-07:00

The HTC HD2 T8585 Unlocked Phone with Touch Screen, 5MP Camera, GPS, Wi-Fi and Windows Mobile 6.5 Professional - International Warranty - Black (Wireless Phone Accessory)

I received the phone 9 days ago, the battery last for one day, it's branded T-mobile. In the box: 512mb sd memory, USB charger, USB cable, battery, phone, small user guide. Good touch screen response. Two days after I received the phone the volume down button regularly stuck, so it was impossible use the phone.

I sent it to amazon and waiting for a refund. I I'm looking for another one but, I think this phone is great, so I will buy it again. Works in Honduras Tigo network.

iHome IB969G Charging Station for iPad, iPod, iPhone, BlackBerrys and eReaders

2011-07-31T04:18:00.000-07:00

A great solution for charging up an assortment of Apple gadgets. It provides the extra power needed to charge an iPad while it's powered on. The USB ports on most PC's only put out 500mw and the iPad needs 1000mw to be charged while it's in use. I like that you can charge 4 devices at once and only use a single power outlet.

Plus it makes a great stand for the iPad. We keep this in the kitchen and we can view recipes on the iPad while it's resting in the stand. When you price out decent iPad stands, this becomes a greater bargain.

There were a couple of peeves, but nothing serious. It does not come with an Apple dock connector USB cable. They are cheap enough, like this one, but iHome could have tossed one in. Also the phone charging cable needs to use the included mini to micro adapter. Mobile phones have pretty much standardized on the micro USB connector, a cable like this (except shorter) should have been included.

The Latest Kindle 3G Free 3G + Wi-Fi

2011-07-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

I have had my kindle for about a month.

Like most people I am extremely happy with it. We do not have Wi-Fi so I purchased the 3G one. I am glad I did as it works anywhere - I have had great fun demonstrating to other people how easy it is to buy a book!
It is very easy to use, both for actual reading of the book as well as ordering them. I used it at interval when I was in a dimly lit theatre and I could still read quite easily. With the cover it is comfortable to hold as you read as it stays open when not using any hands - it is simple to rest it on your lap or on the couch beside you.

The manual that is already loaded onto the kindle is very straightforward and explains anything you need to know. I have already put quite a few books onto it and sorted them into categories. The battery life is very good and charging is simple. I charge it from the wall using the same charger that I use for my ipod.

My husband and daughter also intend to purchase a kindle and it is great that we will all
have access to any books purchased from Amazon. If you are still debating about buying a kindle (do I need it? I love the feel of books etc) - take my word for it - you will love it! Just go ahead and buy it.

A Stolen Life: A Memoir

2011-07-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

I want to clear up something on one review I read before buying the book - the person was complaining about multiple pages of her writing about a cat and how unnecessary that was. That person neglected to mention that it was not type written pages, but a photo copy of a young girl writing a diary about a cat that made her happy. Good grief - the poor girl had no love other than that of a few animals that were typically taken from her - the person who wrote that review obviously has no sense of compassion and if you don't have any compassion then maybe you shouldn't be reading this book - cuz you won't get it.

I was personally riveted by this book. I could not put it down. It must have been therapeutic for her to write this because in the beginning as she tells her story - she sounds just like an eleven year old girl. You can see a transformation in her thinking as the book progressed to her adult years - yet still a wounded child lived inside her. The sadness was there through out, but she has been groomed to push down feelings and do what was expected of her to survive. What good would acknowledging her feelings do?

What they did to her was unforgivable and I know that God will judge them accordingly. They may see justice on earth but it will not compare to the justice that God will take on them for hurting a young child and taking her innocence. And for - corrupting her mind about God. Using the Bible to further his "cause" - he will be judged. I hope that someday Jaycee can see God for who He is and not the distorted picture that was painted for her by Phillip. It was not the angels that were speaking to him - but instead the demons.

I know most people don't want to hear about God, but in addition to the loss of innocence and stealing away her freedom and right to happiness - he stole her right to learn and decide whether or not to have faith in God. I don't know if she would have believed in God had this never happened, but her view of God has no doubt been corrupted by this monster as well. It is her right to learn about God on her own and make her own decision. In order to do that, she has to weed through the lies he told first. That just makes me so angry because I think faith could help her and it is just another thing stolen away.

Enough of my soap box. I recommend the book. But if you have been sexually abused - it may be a hard read. If you choose to read it - keep in mind that she is a survivor. Nothing he did to her - no matter how heinous - destroyed her. Take hope in that. We all have a journey and this is hers.

Battle: Los Angeles

2011-07-04T12:47:00.001-07:00

So....before watching this, ask yourself what it is you are really looking for in a movie. If you are looking for the next incredible script and/or amazing dialogue, you might as well just move on. This is an action film, pure and simple.

The basic premise is that a bunch of clustered meteors appear on our tracking devices not long before impact, and seem to be falling near major coastal population centers around the globe. Before impact, they all slow down, and "pieces" of the clusters break away from their main hosts. Film crews on the scene reveal that they are actually aliens, who begin by killing the beachgoers and destroying the ships off the coast. Prior to "impact" a general evacuation of the target areas had been ordered by the gov't, but apparently, a lot of people wanted to witness the event, including swimmers and surfers. Anyway....

The central focus of the movie is a squad of marines led by a green lieutenant and a grizzled staff sergeant with a reputation for getting his soldiers killed in combat and/or leaving them behind (played by Eckhart). The marines set up a forward operating base to halt the alien invasion. Several units, including Eckhart's are sent into the warzone to rescue civilians that havent made it to the FOB, or are trapped. Of course, nobody is quite prepared for the alien soldiers they encounter, but the unit is gritty, and fights their way to some civilians. Their rescue chopper is blown out of the sky with their four (or five, cant remember) injured squadmates in it. So....they have to hoof it to the FOB. Did i mention that the gov't plans to carpet bomb the whole area, and they only have a limited amount of time to get out of the area?

This is where the movie really starts getting interesting. I wont ruin the rest of it, but there are lots and lots of gunfights and explosions, some of which actually knocked my speakers off the entertainment center! Also, Eckhart in particular really shined in his role, but in truth, you come to love all the soldiers, and find yourself feeling proud of those who survive and those who die as well.

A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five

2011-07-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Dubbed “the American Tolkien” by Time magazine, George R. R. Martin has earned international acclaim for his monumental cycle of epic fantasy. Now the #1 New York Times bestselling author delivers the fifth book in his spellbinding landmark series—as both familiar faces and surprising new forces vie for a foothold in a fragmented empire.

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, the future of the Seven Kingdoms hangs in the balance once again—beset by newly emerging threats from every direction. In the east, Daenerys Targaryen, the last scion of House Targaryen, rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has three times three thousand enemies, and many have set out to find her. Yet, as they gather, one young man embarks upon his own quest for the queen, with an entirely different goal in mind.

To the north lies the mammoth Wall of ice and stone—a structure only as strong as those guarding it. There, Jon Snow, 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch, will face his greatest challenge yet. For he has powerful foes not only within the Watch but also beyond, in the land of the creatures of ice.

And from all corners, bitter conflicts soon reignite, intimate betrayals are perpetrated, and a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, will face seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Some will fail, others will grow in the strength of darkness. But in a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics will lead inevitably to the greatest dance of all. . . .

This book is released on the 12th of July, click here to pre-order the hardcover or read a sample chapter.

My Daily Cycling is Going Great!

2011-07-03T07:38:00.000-07:00

Ever since I took up cycling, I have started noticing huge changes in my health as well as how long I spend in bed. My routine currently is that I wake up at about 5am and ride for an hour before having a showing and getting ready for work.

There's a big park just a few minutes from my street, so this makes it a cool opportunity for me to exercise and not spend any money in the gym. I don't think tying myself in for a one year contract will make me spend time at the gym. Research has shown that more than half who sign up for a gym membership don't even make it to the third month.

The cool thing about biking is that you get to ride round the park with other cyclists; there's n pressure and from anyone to corner you into some expensive membership fees. All you need is your own bicycle and some riding shoes like this Pearl iZUMi Men's Select MTB Mountain Biking Shoe. That's all.

Since last week I've managed to hit my daily target, so I hope to continue this week. I would totally recommend it to anyone who wants to lose some weight and not bother paying for some expensive gym membership.

Using Sport Pedals with Cleats

2011-06-24T09:20:00.000-07:00

Since I started cycling to work, I feel like I have joined an elite group of keen cyclists in my area. These guys are always talking about their bikes every little chance get - how cool it is to ride around in this big city and not bother with the heavy traffic that's so common these days. Some of these guys I still bump into when I go for my Saturday morning ride, so we're sort of becoming friends in the process.

Two days ago, I mentioned to one of the guys about my new cycling shoes and how cool they were, but the pedals could do with a replacement. He suggested I look at the Shimano bike Pedals This is my first clipless pedal so I don't have much to compare it to but my experience so far with it is great. Easy to adjust the spring tension which makes it easier or harder to clip in or out. Also, like other reviewers noted this pedal comes with cleats.

Just a word of warning to everyone who hasn't installed a pedal before, BE CAREFUL when threading the pedal into the crank. This was the first time I had ever installed a pedal and I must have forced it in just a little bit because the pedal was cross-threaded (the threads didn't match up perfectly) and it wore the pedal threads completely bare. My pedal literally fell out of the perfectly smooth hole where the threads used to be. It's now at the shop costing 35+ dollars to repair.

This is definitely not Shimano's fault but be very gentle and careful when threading pedals into the crank!

10 questions you should ask the interviewer

2011-06-22T03:06:00.000-07:00

You bought a new suit and you are ready for the interview. Also your CV is flawless and you even seem great on paper. Now, for the last piece of the successful job search puzzle you need to impress them at the interview.

How do you do it? Try asking questions. Besides showing your interest in the position and the company, asking questions gives you an active role in the interview and lets you steer the interview into areas where you shine. To make sure your next interview is as smooth as your freshly pressed suit, try these 10 questions on for size:

"What type of growth and advancement opportunities does this position and the company offer?"This tells the interviewer that you have a long-term vision for your professional future and that you're not just looking for a paycheque; you're looking to secure a career.

"How do you see me benefiting the company?"Finding out why you were selected out of possibly hundreds of other candidates gives you a chance to expand on the qualities that caught their eye, further making the case for your hire.
"What exactly are the job responsibilities?"Job ads usually list the general areas of responsibility for a position. It's always good to confirm what the actual duties will be. You don't want to start your new job as an engineer and find out you're responsible for the weekly doughnut run.
"What would my first project be if I'm hired?" This will give you a specific idea of what you can expect when you walk into the office that first day after being hired. It also can give you a heads up as to what will be expected of you, allowing you to build on those attributes during the interview.

"Who will evaluate me if I'm hired?"Ask this question, and you'll discern the company and departmental structure under which you will be working. For instance, will you report directly to the vice president or will there be a succession of middle managers between you?

"Are continuing education and professional training stressed?"This shows your willingness to learn new skills and adapt to new challenges or initiatives. Adaptability is very important in today's changing economy and could be key to retaining your job in a reorganisation.

"What is the company's culture?"This will reveal those "intangibles" of a company that have nothing to do with professional experience or required education. If you need a traditional, office/cube environment to stay focused and get the job done, a more creativity-driven workplace which allows music streaming from computers, nerf hoop tournaments and ultraflexible schedules may not be conducive to your productivity.

"Why did you choose this company?"Hearing why a current employee opted to work at the firm can give you some insight into some of the strengths and opportunities within the organisation.

"When will a decision be made on the successful candidate?"Knowing this helps you determine the timing of your interview follow-up activities.

"May I contact you if I have other questions?"It's always good to wrap up the interview with this question. It keeps the door open for further communication, giving you one last chance to make your case.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - The Extended Edition

2011-06-21T02:17:00.000-07:00

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - The Extended Edition - Firstly 5* for the movie. Been waiting for the Hi-Def Extended edition. Thank you New Line.

Secondly, here's a logical reason for having two disks, and it's basic mathematics. Here goes, hope some of you learn some lessons here:

A Dual Layer Blu-Ray 50GBytes of storage = 400 G Bits of data (there are 8 bits in a bytes - remember this from Tron)

One 400 G/Bits Blu-Ray at around 210 Minutes per Movie = 12,600 Seconds of Movie. Therefore on a Dual Layer 50GB Blu Ray the average bit rate you could force on it for 210 Minutes of footage is 400,000,000,000 / 12,600 Seconds = 31.746031 MBits per second.

Now, as we all know the Max Blu Ray Bit rate is Spec'd at 36 Mbits/second. So, you will NEVER NEVER fit a full highest quality 1080P movie at 36 Mbits/sec. OK, so the average bit rate will not always be needed at 36 Mbits/sec (* see note below!), but lets face it technically you'd bee pushing it to compromise on Quality by squeezing it on 1 Disk.

Obviously Audio / Alternate sound tracks adds to the bit rate, although to be honest a couple of 192Kilobyte/sec audio tracks is a small % of that needed for video. The Main DTS would be 754K/bits per second so a bit more of a chunk into the 36MBits.

So, no way people. technically the movie WOULD BE INFERIOR is fitted onto 1 disk. Get real!

You seem to want New Line to defy the laws of physics - no way, so give it a rest hey over the number of Disks. You can't do it technically at 1080P.

Thanks to the people who queried the 36MBbs rate. This is, obviously(!), the spec of 1x Speed Data read rate - the minimum requirement of the most basic BD-ROM reader.

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - The Extended Edition

Squirms, Screams and Squirts: Going from Great Sex to Extraordinary Sex

2011-06-18T09:41:00.001-07:00

I haven't finished reading this book but I have really learned a lot from it. I can't wait to use my new knowledge to improve things in the bedroom. The author speaks as though he is speaking directly to you & it doesn't feel awkward or perverted at all. If you're a normal person w/ an interest in enhancing your sex life this is the perfect book for you. It's mostly geared towards men but if you want to find a way to communicate to your man this will really help.

I'm not the type that loves reading about how to spice up my love life from a book. There's nothing like one size fits all when it comes to love, so knowing how to handle ones individual love life is the key here. It does not matter a jolt to read the whole book on this planet on how to satisfy your partner, if there's no communication and respect, it will always end in disaster.

So if you are serious about bringing that spice back, then Squirms, Screams and Squirts: Going from Great Sex to Extraordinary Sex is a must.

Pearl iZUMi Men's Select MTB Mountain Biking Shoe

2011-06-17T05:03:00.000-07:00

Pearl iZUMi Men's Select MTB Mountain Biking Shoe - Since I sold my car early this year, I decided to take up cycling. It has changed my life - this is the sort of thing I should have been doing for years. Not that I don't like cars, I love having evening and Sunday morning drives, but using the car everyday, for me was a waste of money on gas.

I finally decided to sell it and go for a push bike when the insurance company put up my premium. In the last 6 years or so, I only put in claim once - that was for a windscreen replacement. Since then I have not made any other claims, so was not happy when the renewal pack came through with an increase in 30%.

Today, I'm much healthier, lighter and happier. Flogging the car in the first place was a hard decision, it felt like I was letting a part of me go. I've had it for almost 10 years, during which time it has become a huge part of me.

I went for a ride this morning, the temperature was in the low 50s. I only went out to test my new Pearl iZUMi Men's Select MTB Mountain Biking Shoe which I got yesterday. It is a nice shoe for serious riders - fits in quite well, stiff and hard on the sole with toughened studs. The inside is well padded with added comfort.

I rode for about 2 hours in the local park with other riders - everyone showing off their gears, helmet and mounted cameras. I should get myself one of those cameras as well. Especially those that can be mounted on the bicycle's handle bar.

This is a new found freedom for me - it not only allow me to save on gas, insurance and tax, it also gives me the much needed opportunity to keep fit.

HMRC plans to crawl web to catch tax cheats

2011-06-14T05:23:00.001-07:00

Tax collector plans to deploy "robots" to scour web for information on companies and individuals to find evidence of evasion

HM Revenues and Customs says it plans to used “web robot” software to crawl the Internet for evidence of individuals and companies evading tax.

The proposed system will integrate data collected from websites with HMRC's Connect system, which compares tax records with third party information sources to discover incidents of tax evasion.

The technology will support four forthcoming campaigns by HMRC. These will target 'VAT rulebreakers', individuals offering paid training without paying tax, untaxed online marketplaces and traders.

"We will use the information we gather to pursue people who choose not to use the opportunities we provide for them to put their affairs in order on the best possible terms," said HMRC director of risk and intelligence, Mike Wells. “It will be more expensive if we come and find people, so I urge them to come forward and disclose voluntarily.”

Connect is based on a system called NetReveal from BAE Systems' IT security subsidiary Detica. According to a departmental report in 2009, the system uncovered VAT repayment fraud worth £330 million in its first year of use.

Baby Einstein Musical Motion Activity Jumper

2011-06-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

Baby Einstein musical motion activity jumper - I was looking for an activity seated toy for my 4 month old. I was torn between a jumper and a saucer. I decided I wanted a jumper as my little girl loves to bounce. I did quite a bit of research before deciding on the baby Einstein musical jumper (blue).

As always, Amazon's delivery of my item was very quick! I had it in less than a week (even for a large item like this one!).

The jumper was a little difficult to put together but my husband and I had it together in about a half an hour. Once it was together, it was exactly what I had hoped it would be.

It has a ton of toys to keep her busy and I love that the seat swivels so if she does get bored I can change her view! And you can add your own toys as there are extra space for that purpose. She's too little to work the bounce yet but I'm sure she will love it when she can. The music is very pleasing to the ear (as most electronic music can be sharp and annoying). Plus the "piano" has different options. It will do shapes and colors in english, french, and spanish or she can make her own song in the piano setting or it plays 4 or 5 different song with one touch. It's very stable and well made. I can see it holding up through the torture of this child and hopefully the next.

Overall, baby einstein musical motion activity jumper was a great purchase! If your looking for a jumper that swivels like a saucer this is the jumper for you! And the price is a steal too!

Free $5 Kellogg's Coupon

2011-06-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

I received an email from a friend that Kelloggs are giving $5 free coupon simply by just by signing up to their newsletter, I quickly grabbed mine. It is very simple, you don't need to buy anything to get the free $5 coupon - you simply need to join their list to receive this offer instantly in your email. Click here to join

Please make sure you keep checking if the site is busy - this offer is proving to be very popular so there's currently a huge load on their servers as I write this. If it times out, give it another few minutes before trying again. I have managed to register 3 emails - that's free $15 off my shopping cost. The cool thing about this is that you can print it out and use it in your local shop. It tells you in the response email where in the country you can redeem them if you prefer to shop online.

I just thought I would post it here in case some of your find it useful.
Hurry up! This offer ends this Friday, so sign up now and receive your free $5 coupon instantly in your inbox now. These free coupons are great for saving on everyday items, so if you are not using them, you may be losing out. They are free and you should grab them with every opportunity.

Update: Looks like the site has a connection issue as pointed out by one user. I've tried it again myself and it was indeed not connecting. If however, you manage to get through please let us know.

Go the F**k to Sleep

2011-06-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

Oh wow! I love this book! Our 7 month old just reached teething; my patient, loving husband ordered this & when it arrived last week he read it to me after our son was (finally) conked out.
I laughed so hard I had to run to the bathroom in mid-rhyme during my husband's storytime!
Awesome! So worth the price to be able to laugh that hard with my parent-partner. I love my son, we all love our kids, and the sanity we give up as conscientiously-parenting adults makes bonding experiences like this so worth it!

My favorite parts are actually the pics: the kid running naked into the hall (all you see is the shadow of a bare bum), the bright-eyed awake child amid the peaceful slumbering animals, and the blessed papa taking the toddler back to bed while mama sleeps on the couch. Beautiful.

For all the partners & dads who care for the kids, while mom sleeps, I thank you!
Occasionally I've needed that primal scream, but this book helped even more when my loving son bit me yesterday with his cute little sharp teeth.

Turbotax Deluxe 2009

2011-06-08T15:12:00.000-07:00

Turbotax Deluxe 2009 - In this economic times, one way to survive is through self employment. Although it could be touch initially, but the benefits out-weigh the struggles, sleepless nights and time put into it. But as your business begins to grow, you will eventually have to apply for tax registration number, and then start paying your taxes. It is against the law to not pay taxes and you could find yourself dragged to the courts and possibly sent down for it.

So, if you are a small company, chances are that you don't have enough budget for a full time accountant. These guys cost a lot to hire, and given the state of the nations economy, there's no guarantee that they will have jobs several months down the line. So, one way to file in your tax returns at the end of the year is through self assessment.

Luckily, there are lots of tools out there that just about anyone could use to help file in their returns. One of the best we've seen so far is the Turbotax Deluxe 2009. Don't let the name fool you - it is a tool that is constantly updated. It comes with a simple, yet powerful step-by-step guide to help you file in your federal returns. A great number of people now use Turbotax Deluxe 2009 because of its simplicity and easy of use.

Who Should Use Turbotax Deluxe 2009?

One thing that makes Turbotax Deluxe 2009 stand out is not just the cost, but how easy it was made so that anyone can start using it the moment it's installed. My dad runs a Bicycle shop - and having tried many other tools, have settle for Turbotax Deluxe 2009 because he felt at home right from the start.

Using it was a breeze for him, it automatically pulled up all the details - names, address, SSN and telephone numbers, without requiring him to re-enter them all over again yearly. Apart from the federal returns, it comes with at least one free TurboTax State product download. It comes absolutely free with the main Turbotax Deluxe 2009. If you run a business in one of the states, you can just adjust the settings and download the product for that particular state.

Apart from that, it has a built-in support for over 350 kinds of deductions and automatically double-checks your return for errors priory to sending. For some people, this is the only tax tool they know, they've used it since inception and it's been a massive shift from the days of Spreadsheet. It does not matter who old or young you are, the Turbotax Deluxe 2009 is ideal for anyone running their own business and are looking for effective and efficient way to file in and save themselves from the stresses and headache.

Get paid to receive junk mail

2011-06-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Marketing companies make huge sums selling your details to other companies, whether your address, phone number, email, salary, preferences, date of birth and more. A new site promises to let you get some of its cut for selling this personal data.

How does it work? First it opts you off all other lists (if you just want to opt out yourself for privacy see the Beat Cold Callers & Junk Mail guide), then you select what you're willing to do, and what information you're willing to go out there.

How much can you get? It's told us you can make anything from a few pounds right up to a few hundred a year if you fill in all its categories (and don't mind getting a lot of spam!)
It's currently free to join and says it'll give you 70% of its profit from selling your data (can take up to 8 weeks). There' s a limited number available, so it's first come, first served.

Is it worth doing? Frankly we've no idea - this is a brand new concept and while it could be a brilliant easy money spinner, equally it could be a total damp squib or worse. We have been using it for over 3 weeks now and will be paid at the end of the month.

We will update this post along with the link as soon as we get paid so you too can sign up.

Panasonic VIERA TC-P50GT25 50-inch 1080p 3D Plasma HDTV, Black

2011-06-08T03:11:00.000-07:00

Panasonic developed the Plasma TV in the beginning so it makes sense that this TV is the latest in Plasmas with "new" fast response phospors (pixels). Every review I have read about Plasmas complains about image retention. I will address that first.

Image retention is not the same as image burn in. Now to understand this phenomenon, stare at a light source for 20 seconds, then close your eyes. For several seconds you will still see the image in front of you. So in a very dark room watching any TV will induce your eyes to have "image retention" when switching from very bright scenes to very dark scenes. Image retention on this TV is similarly annoying as the mottled look that the Sony HX810 LED LCD has in "black" scenes.

If you plan to watch CNN or any other channel with still images, logos, etc., 24/7; a plasma TV is not for you. If you watch alot of movies, a plasma will be a very good investment. Panasoninc recommends 100 hours of break in before watching programs with still images that last more than 15 minutes to reduce image retention and burn in. That figure is very accurate. When I first got this TV (Feb 20, 2011) and set it up, I played several video games and watched movies on it. Image retention is most noticeable in a dark room with scenes switching from light and fading to black. If you have played Gran Turismo 5, the switching screens are perfect examples. Now that I have used the TV over 100 hours the image retention is reduced. Image retention gets better with every day. I believe any Plasma, just like CRT's can have images burned into them. I have looked at new Samsung and LG plasmas and Panasonic's image retention (or lack of) is much better.

2D images are just like any HDTV. Very clear and sharp. Blu-rays look excellent! Colors are very crisp and beautiful. Watching movies at night are better than going to the theatre. Very dark blacks. Standard definition is better than the Sony HX810 LED LCD.

Now the reason I got this TV in the first place was for 3D. I am glad I did. This TV can do 2D to 3D conversion, and it does it better than the Sony HX810. I know Samsung has this feature, but I can't say how well it does. 3D movies and games are excellent with this TV. The glasses had to be purchased separately, but they are very lightweight compared to the heavier glasses for the Sony. When watching 3D on this TV, you can move around and lay down and tilt your head, as long as you're looking at the TV everything stays in 3D and the image stays sharp. Convergence is dependant on each individual and settings either in the movie, game, or TV. The Sony HX810's 3D is not as flexible, as in, you have to stay sitting perfectly straight to watch and tilting your head more than 10 degrees left or right, and the image blurs and no more 3D.

Now to comment on sound. Why watch an HDTV with "SD" sound? I have my TV hooked up to a 7.2 receiver. Before I hooked everything up, I did watch a few programs with the TV with the speakers on, and it sounded good, but nothing beats speakers outside of a "flat" TV. The TV has audio return channel ARC, and so with the receiver hooked up, I also get the added feature of HDMI switching. With just the TV remote, I can turn on the TV and the receiver will come on. With everything off, I can open the Blu-ray player and insert a movie and the TV and receiver will come on with the correct inputs switched on. The ultimate in laziness!

Watching motion on this TV is excellent. No blurring and fast scene switching. I have noticed motion blur and induced scene stuttering from my PS3, but the TV has no problem keeping up with motion. Compared to the Sony LED @ 240Hz, the LED can't keep up with some fast scenes. On LCD's, response times (pixel going from black to white and back to black; off, on, off) are measured in milliseconds, and the only info I could find for the Sony is between 2ms and 5ms. Slower response times will induce "ghosting" on motion scenes. The bigger the screen, the more pronounced it becomes. But because response time is so fast on this plasma TV, it doesn't need to be measured, and picture processing is done with a 600Mhz sub-field drive.

This TV has streaming internet video, and I have used the feature several times, but I'm not much on internet videos. I also have hooked up my PC a couple times. Don't forget that this TV is THX certified!

I would buy this TV again.

True Grit

2011-06-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

"You must pay for everything in this world, one way and another. There is nothing free except the grace of God." After her father is murdered Mattie Ross hires Marshal "Rooster" Cogburn (Bridges) to help bring him to justice. Together the two of them and Texas Ranger LaBoeuf (Damon) begin to track down Tom Chaney. I have to admit I was a little leery about watching this. See the Blu-ray/DVD Combo

I have heard nothing but good things about this movie, but I am a huge John Wayne fan and did not think this sould be re-done. I will admit that Jeff Bridges is a great pick to take over for The Duke. After watching this I noticed that it is nothing like the original at all (it has been a while since I have seen it though), so much so it's almost hard to compare the two.

That being said, I really enjoyed this movie a lot more then I expected to. This is far and away the best western that has come out since "Open Range", and my favorite Coen Brothers movie since "O Brother, Where Art Thou". Bridges does a great job of making the part his own, and Hailee Steinfeld (in a break-out preformance) does a fantastic job of holding her own against the heavyweights of the movie.

If you go in looking for a re-make of the John Wayne version you will be dissapointed. If you are looking for a different take on it then you will enjoy this one. Very, very good movie. Overall I would say that with all the hype behind this movie, it does a good job of living up to it. I give it an A-.

Would I watch again? - I think I would, after watching the original again.

*Also try - Goodnight For Justice & True Grit (The Original)

The Millionaire Messenger: Make a Difference and a Fortune Sharing Your Advice

2011-06-05T07:30:00.001-07:00

I've been following Brendon's work for a while now and jumped on the chance to get an advanced copy of this book. I can honestly say that the number of, "ah ha!" moments I had in this book amounts to a positive change in my life.

Ever read or hear something that immediately after you think, "well, of course, that's common sense," but before that you weren't thinking along those lines? That's what kept happening to me with this book. So much more of the expert industry just makes sense to me now, and I'm in the process of revamping how I present my work to the world.

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn how to share their expertise with the rest of the world. Add in all the FREE training Brendon gives on his various sites and I suspect that you'll be well on your way to improving your career goals.

Canon Pixma MX882 Wireless Office All-In-One Printer (4894B002)

2011-06-02T16:18:00.000-07:00

This Canon replaced a non-wireless Canon for my family and, as of right now, I'm definitely happy with it (my parents are enjoying my old Canon, which is still trucking along quite well!). I wanted this one because it's wireless and, as I use a laptop and move around my house and outside, I really wanted it for its wire-free features. It was a pain to have to plug in to print and wait there until the printing was done. I felt a bit chained in place with my old Canon. With this one, I'm all set.

The set-up for the wireless feature was relatively simple and, as soon as it was all installed, I was good to go! Wow. So much easier to just press print and have my stuff print in the other room, rather than going in to connect (Wow. I'm so spoiled with all this technology. Heaven forbid I should have to get up and plug in a plug. Still...I like being spoiled in this way!). Now, if you're an Ethernet person, you'll have to go back and forth between it and the wireless but, since I'm a wireless/USB chick, I was all good. (Don't know if that's something they're going to fix or what but, there you go.)

Since there are five ink cartridges instead of just two, my colors are so much crisper and clearer. I love the pictures that I've been able to scan and print. While the scanner isn't the fastest thing in the world, it's so nice to be able to scan in old pictures and send them to family and friends. It's like reliving the old days, looking at those. I can't wait until I have a chunk of time to upload a bunch more and post them for everyone. Plus, when I run out of a certain color, I just have to replace that one cartridge, rather than the whole "color cartridge".

When printing on just regular paper (make sure you don't get the cheapest kind or it'll jam up on you), the speed seems a bit slow but that's probably because I'm used to the laser printer at work, which just spits them out. However, it's not any slower than my other Canon and the pages look even better (both black and white and color). I guess if I'm going to continue to print large documents and I want speed, I'll have to upgrade. But, for now, this printer is more than capable and does a bang-up job.

Because I don't have a land line anymore (I went the way of the cell-only crowd), I was unable to try out the fax but, since I don't really fax anything, that wasn't a selling point for me anyway. If you're interested in this feature, check out some of the other reviews who address this aspect of the printer.

All in all, I'm quite satisfied with my new Canon in its pretty black shell (which is a huge dust-collector but oh, well. It forces me to be a better housekeeper...or not.)

Rule 34 - Charles Stross

2011-05-29T03:33:00.000-07:00

DI Liz Kavanaugh: You realise policing internet porn is your life and your career went down the pan five years ago. But when a fetishist dies on your watch, the Rule 34 Squad moves from low priority to worryingly high profile. Anwar: As an ex-con, you'd like to think your identity fraud days are over. Especially as you've landed a legit job (through a shady mate).

Although now that you're Consul for a shiny new Eastern European Republic, you've no idea what comes next. The Toymaker: Your meds are wearing off and people are stalking you through Edinburgh's undergrowth. But that's ok, because as a distraction, you're project manager of a sophisticated criminal operation.

But who's killing off potential recruits? So how do bizarre domestic fatalities, dodgy downloads and a European spamming network fit together? The more DI Kavanaugh learns, the less she wants to find out.

Thank You Notes

2011-05-27T08:42:00.000-07:00

I watch almost every Jimmy Fallon show, and Thank You Notes on Fridays is one of my favorite segments. Jimmy's show is just hilarious..the games they do are outrageous and ridiculously funny (Models and Buckets??? Name That Guy???), and segments like Thank You Notes just complete it. You do not get Jimmy and the Roots' amazing presentation of the Thank You Notes in this book, but the jokes are still amazing. The best part about it is how Jimmy and the writers take little things that no one thinks about and exploits them in a thank you note.

Buy the book, it's only a half a dozen bucks. Anyone with a sense of humor will love it. After you read it, watch the show on Fridays for the segment. As I said before, the jokes are great, five star worthy... but the presentation of these thank you notes on the show just puts it over the edge.

Getting the Sex You Want: Shed Your Inhibitions and Reach New Heights of Passion Together

2011-05-22T16:51:00.001-07:00

Here is a book I'll recommend to any couple who feels ready to experience a more loving and passionate sexual relationship. Tammy Nelson is an Imago therapist and teacher with two decades of clinical practice. Her skills shine forth not only in the information she offers here, but also in the helpful way the book is organized, with step by step techniques for helping couples recharge their relationships in a variety of situations.

Topics include help for stale-mated partners who "keep score" and for those who "fake it." She offers exercises to deal with the fear, anxiety, control, anger, and resentment that too many couples take to bed with them, and shows ways to express love, trust, appreciation, sensuality, and lusty desire. Other topics include explicit guidance for sexual intimacy that range from massage and genital stimulation to creating sexual rituals. The book concludes with a section on tolerating ecstasy and joy--a problem many people have in our fast-track culture.

If you are a therapist who works with couples--you'll find this book a wonderful resource for you as well as your clients. It spans the divide between couple therapy and sex therapy in a way that guides and educates in a straightforward, collegial manner.

Garmin Training Center

2011-05-15T04:37:00.000-07:00

Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor. There's a planned training on how to use it, so be sure to look out for where the Garmin Training Center is if you are lucky enough to have one of these new monitoring devices.

Keurig Elite B40 - Keurig Elite B40 on Amazon

2011-05-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

Keurig Elite B40

How Software Professionals Are Making Money Online.

2011-05-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

I will show you how I used one of the free online freelancing sites to generate enough money to cover some of my bills - and still have more to put into my savings bank account.

Now just to let you know that I am not a full-time freelancer, and I don't make anywhere close to Nkem Jana. My main area is software engineering, meaning that I work with companies to help them ensure that their product is developed and delivered on time and within budget. Come to think of it, the whole internet eco-system is developed and run on software applications. So, why is it that many of us software professionals have not really taken advantage of our expertise and start making good decent income online?

To answer this question myself, I thought I would looked around for how software developers make money online. It turns out that most people think that it is affiliate marketers who are the only people that can truly make money online. That is wrong. In fact, there has been a long history of freelancers who have been in the business long enough that they now rake in more money than those who claim to be employed full-time.

To try this out, I signed up with one of the best known freelance websites out there today - Odesk.com; and within weeks was able to start making some cool money on the side.

I work full-time like the rest of you guys, so I didn't have to change anything. Instead what I changed was my bank balance. I now have more money coming in on weekends and evenings that I don't have to worry about things like credit card loan bills, cheap loans and stuff like that. The money I now make simply by taking on some of the millions of projects on the site is enough to cover most of my outgoings.

$750 earned within days

The cool thing about this is that you don't need to have a degree in computer science to start working on any of the projects. There are all sorts of work there from simple data input job, to Accounting, iPhone development, Java, Python....or you if you can't write software, you could think about article writing which could give you anything between $20 -$75/ 500 words.

Have a look - there's something for everyone, so if I can just write a simple 300 article for $50 for someone, you too can do far much more than that. I didn't want to post the screenshot, but thought I should put it up here for those who love to see evidence to give them extra motivation. For the record, I did a simple plug in development for a client and one article. The majority of the income came from that single plug in which took me 3 nights to develop as I work during the day. The article took me roughly a few days to complete - I needed to research it, meaning there was no need to rush. Most clients are happy to give you as much time as you need as long as you are in constant contact.

The gist here is that no matter what sort of background you have, there's millions of opportunities out there, it's a question of how motivated are you about doing something extra in the evenings and weekends to earn some extra cash.

Click here to view all the jobs available....or Click Odesk.com to join now and start making money with your skill!

iOS Forensic Analysis: for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch

2011-05-09T03:04:00.000-07:00

iOS Forensic Analysis provides an in-depth look at investigative processes for the iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad devices. The methods and procedures outlined in the book can be taken into any courtroom. With iOS information never published before and data sets that are new and evolving, this book gives the examiner and investigator the knowledge to complete a full device examination that will be credible and accepted in the forensic community.

What you’ll learn

How to respond to security incidents involving iOS devices
How to acquire and analyze data on iOS devices such as iPhone and iPad
How to analyze media exploitation on iOS devices

Who this book is for

Computer forensic professionals, law enforcement, attorneys, security professionals, those who are curious about such things, iPhone hackers and educators. You will also learn a lot if you want to know how to forensically sniff through data - even when encrypted. There's a great deal in this book.

iOS Forensic Analysis: for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch can also be employed by law enforcement training academies, universities, as well as computer forensic, information security, and e-discovery communities.

Click here to buy

Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR

2011-05-05T12:14:00.000-07:00

Developing Android Applications with Adobe AIR - If you want to use your ActionScript skills to build mobile applications for the Android OS, this thorough guide will show you how to use the unique programming environment, architecture, and tools in the Adobe AIR for Android SDK. You'll get practical hands-on experience on a wide range of development topics, from device-specific features to optimization techniques and best practices -- including how expand your mobile development experience beyond Android to other platforms.
Developing Android Apps with Adobe AIR takes you through the entire development process, with ready-to-run example code that implements each feature discussed, including:

Touch and gesture events, and screen orientation
Saving and retrieving data on the device
Features such as geolocation and the accelerometer
Animation, scrolling, device resolution, and vector images versus bitmaps
Architecture for one screen at a time and breadcrumb navigation
Advanced topics, such as security, custom views, and optimization

About the Author

Veronique Brossier is Senior Flash Engineer at MTVNetworks and adjunct professor at ITP/New York University. She has worked on applications for the world of art and entertainment, including The New York Visitor Center and the 9/11 Memorial site for Local Projects, NickLab for R/Greenberg Associates, Cartoon Network Online, the Hall of Biodiversity at the American Museum of National History, and many more.

SEAL Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy SEAL Sniper

2011-05-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

SEAL Team Six is a secret unit tasked with counterterrorism, hostage rescue, and counterinsurgency. In this dramatic, behind-the-scenes chronicle, Howard Wasdin takes readers deep inside the world of Navy SEALS and Special Forces snipers, beginning with the grueling selection process of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S)—the toughest and longest military training in the world.

After graduating, Wasdin faced new challenges. First there was combat in Operation Desert Storm as a member of SEAL Team Two. Then the Green Course: the selection process to join the legendary SEAL Team Six, with a curriculum that included practised land warfare to unarmed combat. More than learning how to pick a lock, they learned how to blow the door off its hinges. Finally as a member of SEAL Team Six he graduated from the most storied and challenging sniper program in the country: The Marine’s Scout Sniper School. Eventually, of the 18 snipers in SEAL Team Six, Wasdin became the best—which meant one of the best snipers on the planet.

Less than half a year after sniper school, he was fighting for his life. The mission: capture or kill Somalian warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. From rooftops, helicopters and alleys, Wasdin hunted Aidid and killed his men whenever possible.

But everything went quickly to hell when his small band of soldiers found themselves fighting for their lives, cut off from help, and desperately trying to rescue downed comrades during a routine mission. The Battle of Mogadishu, as it become known, left 18 American soldiers dead and 73 wounded. Howard Wasdin had both of his legs nearly blown off while engaging the enemy. His dramatic combat tales combined with inside details of becoming one of the world’s deadliest snipers make this one of the most explosive military memoirs in years.

Learn To Use Java Generics In Your Code

2011-05-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

As an engineer, there are aspects of software development that baffles me; more specifically, it's the developers. Although, a lot of features like Autoboxing, Generics and other features were added in Java 5, you will be surprised how many people are still not taking advantage of these features.

I recently started working on a project with one of the developers from another team upstairs, it turned out that he had never touched Generics until we added it in some of the code I wrote. For me this is something every developer should know; particularly if you work with Java. This has been a major part of the language as long as I can remember. Not using it in 2011 tells me that not only have these guys in another department writing code that are of low quality, it also means that they are not following good design, software principles and methods.

As learning is concerned, there are both free and commercial resources for learning how to use all the features in Java. Here are some of the resources I have used and still keep around the shelf if I want to make reference.

Oracle Java Tutorial [pdf]
Java Generics and Collections, by Maurice Naftalin and Philip Wadler
Effective Java (second edition), by Joshua Bloch.

I'm sure there are many more resources and materials out there, and a simple search should show you have to get started with Generic. If you are not already using any of the features introduced in Java 5 (like annotation), I highly recommend you started exploring them now.

If you don't know where to begin, as always, a simple online search for tutorials will show you how they are used.

The Traffic in The Last Couple of Months

2011-05-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

I guess the G's Panda recent update has not only hit the big boys, but us small time marketers have felt the pinch as well. The traffic to this blog has dropped by 73% in the last month or so. That is a very huge drop in traffic in anyone's book...you don't have to be promoting any product or service to know what that means.

Some of us rely on good and decent traffic and without it your content and product will not be found; any one who has been in the affiliate business knows exactly what I'm talking about. We spend months and in some cases, years building relationships online just to bring people to our blogs and sites. Some of us even spent a great deal of resources on producing quality content and information of good value that people need, but when another company decides to remove your site from the front page, it can be very hard.

I started noticing the drop in traffic when orders for Eureka 313A Enviro Hard-Surface Floor Steamer stopped literally overnight. I used to see at least 13 searches come in every week and out of those numbers, 2 would place and order. But that has now stopped. So, I thought I would check the logs in case there was something wrong with my code, it was then I realised that search has tailed off overnight.

Mind you, my post used to come up at #3 on the front page - it has now vanished along with many other good quality articles. So, to run a little experiment in an effort to restore the page, I have removed most of the content and modified it a bit. As always, I will give it some time and see if any thing happens next.

I don't know about you, but I don't like to waste anytime on something that's not showing signs of improvement. If after a couple of weeks it does not move back to the front page, I will have to abandon it.

There are other areas and products that I need to experiment with that have done very well in the past. Some have made me even more income than others. For example, I recently blogged about how I made $800 promoting just one product. It demonstrates what could be achieved if you focused your attention on quality products.

So, the next couple of weeks, I have decided to put all my SEO campaigns on hold until there's a visible improvements.

How to Get Out of Your Own Way

2011-04-29T14:42:00.000-07:00

First of all I would like to thank Tyrese Gibson for opening up to the world and shedding light to us in a fatherly way - This books content is strong..every page has a lesson to learn about..highs and lows all the way through..from being a troublesome child ..being kicked from school to growing up and facing growing pains,to having weight issues uncontrollable eating disorders,also having issues with women..

Tyrese Gibson also talks about how he almost messes his career up due to being extra selfish and immature..
This book here definitely has the power to change people's lives and surroundings.

High and low therapy all the way through
Tyrese is no different from any of us,he has made mistakes..NO..and CAN'T is not in his vocabulary..
I was personally going through problems when I read this book.. It motivated me to the point of looking for jobs (not run 5 miles yet lol) But yeah I love the book it is definitely a book worth reading.

I personally learnt alot from it and hope you too take a few positive things away when you read it.
Get your copy here

How I Made $800 Last Month Promoting The 17 Day Diet Book

2011-04-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

In the last couple of months, I have been experimenting on the strategies highlighted in the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Secrets by Erik Dafforn and Danny Dover. This has got to be one of the best resources I've used so far on SEO - it covers most of the things that small-time marketers like myself overlook - which is very vital. These mistakes are not only common with people like myself, but some super affiliates do not take advantage of them as well because their attention is on building their list.

So, what is this method you ask, well, its all about monitoring how your visitors navigate around your landing page and trying to give them what they want rather than letting them click out to other sites or pages when you could have converted them. You need to know what works and what doesn't. If you can't tell why you have high bounce rate, how can you increase your conversions? So, this free online software helps you monitor every visitor and how they mouse their mouse around your site. This is very powerful as you can see, graphically what attracts their attention when already on your landing page.

To put some of the tips into practice, I installed the free software and followed some of the tips described in the book, waited a few weeks and started seeing results almost over night. Within a 3-week period, I was able to shift The 17 Day Diet: A Doctor's Plan Designed for Rapid Results which netted me almost $800 in commission in one month - that is almost 300 copies and a couple Dreamgirl Classixx Chemise. Hint: search online for *The 17 Day Diet: A Doctor's Plan Designed for Rapid Results*

To give you an idea of the earning, I have included the screenshot below. Mind you this is for March only and that figure is guaranteed to double at the end of April as the pages have been seeing a lot of click-throughs over that last couple of weeks. I don't usually put up screenshots like this, but I just thought I would post it here for those who don't believe in the power of SEO.

Mind you, this is not my full time job. I work as a software engineer which, as you will know occupies most of your time during the day, I also spend time on open source developments when I can. So, product promotion is something I thought I would do on the side; and last month's report shows what you can achieve if you follow some of the tips suggested and put in a decent amount of effort.

I, like most people have spent far too long reading people's blogs, sites and forums, affiliate materials, free ebooks; but didn't take any practical action. So, in January I decided to put all the tips into practice and grabbed a copy of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Secrets - highly recommended BTW. It has changed the way I now look are making money only. With Google's latest Panda update hitting big names, I think now's the perfect time to out-rank them and start making serious money.

If you have been thinking about making money only, I suggest you start taking action now - get a copy of the book, download a free copy of Clickmonitor and start getting paid within days.

What you need

Get a copy of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Secrets

Download your free copy of free copy of ClickMonitor

Pick a product and start getting paid within days.

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

2011-04-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me say that I mostly enjoyed this book and the writing style, and think some of the tips/ideas are great. Some of Tim's methods and his personality could rub people the wrong way, though, especially if they have no sense of humor. He's great at exploiting loopholes. Some people call that cheating. Some people call it smart. He definitely dances on that line. Either way, I imagine he makes the victims of these antics either revise their rulebooks, or find creative ways to deal with would-be Tim copycats. Some might say that is helping them improve and innovate. Some of Tim's ideas are not new or original, but he does put a different spin on them. Many of his methods will be hard to apply, especially given our current economy. I'm not sure if his newest revisions address the changes, but I suspect they probably don't.

As many others have stated, despite the misleading (marketing ploy) title, Tim is not trying to tell you a way to sit around and do nothing. Don't ever judge a book by its cover (or title)! On the contrary, I think Tim likely spends a great deal of time (probably more than 40 hours a week) working on things he enjoys. He spends money paying to avoid the things he doesn't enjoy. He doesn't always consider his endeavors work, but some people would. He just tries to outsource anything that bores him. It's not evil slave labor if you're paying a helpful person a livable wage for wherever they live, whether it's India, Indonesia, or Indiana. It's also not taking jobs from more local workers if they can't be as polite, productive, and professional. Tim also measure wealth in more than money and material goods. Most people that adopt this mentality are wise to do so.

If you don't have a personality like Tim's, then some suggestions will be very difficult for you to make work unless you have the ability to look at things differently, or at least sell ice cubes to an Eskimo! There are other books that are similar, but I haven't read them all. I don't have much of a scale for comparison for this type. I appreciated this book more than some I've read in the same category, though, because he does give examples that don't just apply to teens and college freshmen (although they can still use them and would have an easier time of it).

He also points to some resources that many people could find valuable. Tim seems intelligent, driven, and charismatic. He goes after what he wants, and while he's no angel, he seems like a decent, ambitious guy. I say "seems" because I have never met him and don't know him. Those claiming to know him in person seem to be either hate or love him, with very few falling somewhere in between. He does appear to have some noteworthy charity interests, and I like that he offers much of the info for his books on his blog for free. If you don't like his blogs, you may not like the books, though, so I advise checking them out before purchasing. Unfortunately I'm not on Amazon enough to reply to everyone, so please forgive me if I don't see your comments. I'm sure there are others with more time to respond. :)

Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking

2011-04-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

I will preface my review with this: my boyfriend and I cook a lot. We aren't professional chefs, we haven't been properly educated in culinary academia, we just really like food. After a long wait and a week of pouring through these books this is what I can tell you.

Modernist Cuisine: The Art and Science of Cooking is a veritable encyclopaedia of all things food that somehow remains easy to read. As an all encompassing work there is literally something for everyone in here. Into traditional cooking methods? Here you'll find the history, science, and techniques of traditional methods to make you a better cook. Interested in something more exotic? Here you'll find the most cohesive and comprehensive breakdown on sous-vide cooking anywhere.

Herein lies a great equalizer of this set. All topics are given equal treatment. The science and functionality of a humble kitchen skillet is disseminated with as much respect and dignity as is complex lab equipment. It doesn't seem to be so much about the use of expensive equipment in the kitchen but the enormous scope of these books. If there's any way you can cook with it - it it's in here.

That said there is much more to this set than Techniques and Equipment. The breadth and depth of information in these books is staggering but not overwhelming. The pictures are fantastic. The best I've ever seen in a cook book. The topics are well organized and the explanations of often complicated topics (i.e. cellular composition of a muscle) are nevertheless written in easy to understand language. Basically these books are just awesome.

The price of this set is really it's only drawback. Yes, it is expensive, but you get what you pay for and this is no exception. This set is a self contained culinary education. I highly recommend it.

Grab one if you are lucky, otherwise they will all be gone before you finish reading this post.
Click here to see if there's any copy left.

Eureka 313A Enviro Hard-Surface Floor Steamer

2011-04-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

My brand new Eureka 313A Enviro Hard-Surface Floor Steamer for our wooden floor arrived today, and will find time to blog about it when I get to use it for the first time. It is still in the packaging, not in a hurry to use it though as there's still much to clear around the house.

Arsene Wenger Wiki

2011-04-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

Arsene Wenger Wiki - For some of us who are die-hard football fans, we like to keep abreast of what most managers as well as players are up to. Especially if they play for any one of England's top teams...then we love to follow their trends.

For those who do not know Arsene Wenger - he's the manager of Arsenal football club - one of the world's best club. Arsene Wenger Wiki page refers to him as the best manager Arsenal has ever had as a club. Well, I don't know much about past managers, but having followed the club since I was little, I can easily agree with that comment. We love him, in fact, some us have books on our shelves that are dedicated to the club and the great man himself.

As a French man, he has brought some of the fashion, discipline and glamour to the game in this country...which is one of the reason most fans love about him. Besides that, he's also known to be a no-none-sense manager. In fact, because of his tough standard, most of the players have begin to clean up their acts and started focusing more on football than the life of celebrities.

We love him and hope he stays with the club as long, if not longer than Alex Ferguson has been with Man United.

I don't want to give you Arsene Wenger Wiki history here, instead, I will point you to great materials online that covers everything there is to know about the great French man. This includes pictures, biography, gossips, scandals, romance and latest news. But first, make sure to pick up a copy of his latest book here.

Dreamgirl Girls Dreamgirl Classixx Chemise

2011-04-16T05:32:00.000-07:00

I ordered this Dreamgirl Classixx Chemise cause I was looking for a sexy chemise to make my guy go crazy - I know guys like dirty revealing stuff :). Above and beyond, this nightdress is sexy enough for play but also comfortable enough to sleep in on those nights you're just wearing it to feel hot.Quick easy to peal off with one finger

It is see-through, but I'm not the skinniest woman either and it still made me look good. I didn't like the thong, but I'm not fond of thongs in general, I prefer being naked underneath this hot sexy chemise - so that is more a personal preference thing. My guy likes it when he finds that there's nothing under my dress... he's such a dirty boy; so he got really excited when I wore it, and I mean really-really excited. All in all, if lace makes you feel sexy, you'll love it. I personally think of it as an investment piece.

I wasn't too concerned with the price being over about $20 because again, I think of it as an investment piece, it makes me feel pretty, and I got free shipping(though I cannot guarantee you will get free shipping on said item). Click here to see how much they're still going for - remember prices won't stay the same.

You can't go wrong - this Dreamgirl Classixx Chemise will surely do the job to get those sticky juices dripping. Treat yourself to a dirty, lusty time...you've worked too hard. Isn't time you rewarded yourself?

Compare other revealing Dreamgirl Classixx Chemise here as well.

The Tales Of Beedle The Bard

2011-04-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

The Tales Of Beedle The Bard - Wow, I finally managed to sit down and finished this awesome book by the author of Harry Potter.

I first became aware of this book way back in 2008 just before Amazon published the book because it was widely publicised that they bought the right from the author for the sum of $2M. So, being the company that focused primarily on books back them, they were able to use their marketing muscle to push the book and generate enough buzz for the book to hit the top best-seller list within hours of publishing it days later.

Funnily enough, it was only on Amazon that you could pick up the The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition - the ordinary version could be bought just about any good book shop.

Being a huge Harry Potter fan, I quickly bought both the soft copy of The Tales Of Beedle The Bard and the Collector's edition. I really wanted to get the piece of the collector's item as well as have the ordinary version that I could read on my commute to work.

And believe me you have to see the author did a marvellous job with The Tales Of Beedle The Bard.
Unlike anything you've seen or read before, this is like five books in one. It covers five different thrilling, wizardry tales; each with a heart-pumping journey through the mystery world wizards and witches.

What I really like about this book is not only the stories it contains, but the book itself as a collectors item. It comes with a leather back disguised as a wizarding textbook from the Hogwarts library, replica gem stone, skull and metal corners - to give it that authentic collector's item look and feel.

Mine is still very new and I just finished reading it - but I won't be lending it to friends, instead, I plan on saving getting a few more copies as they seem to be going up in value. I just checked on Amazon the other day and the number of reviews there have gone beyond 400 - all 5 stars; that goes to show the level of interest this book is still commanding.

So, if you are reading this piece and thinking of buying a copy, I strongly suggest you get one now. If you are not ready and still want to think about it, well, before you finish thinking, all the special offers will have gone. In fact, click here now to give watch the trailer and give you an idea of how fast they are exchanging hands on Amazon.

Or Click here to buy a copy The Tales Of Beedle The Bard.

The Joy Of Open Source Operating System

2011-04-14T13:13:00.000-07:00

For a software engineer that works on Ubuntu Linux, it was a great feeling to see this video the other day. I planned on posting it here since then, but totally forgot until I bumped into it again this afternoon.

So, I'm posting it now in the hopes that it will inspire you as well and maybe inspire you enough to make you check out Ubuntu Linux - and hopefully join us in shaping its future. By the way, there's a week-long developer event currently running at Ubuntu website that will end this Friday. If you'd like to have fun and learn how Applications are developed for the platform, please do check out the link now.

For me, the journey into using Ubuntu - and finally helping to develop it started a few years ago. While at the university, I had a chance to see what other students were doing and wanted to get in the action. So, we used the Live CDs to create sides and other stuff that would disappear the moment the computer restarted. Loved it so much I started experimenting.

Today, I now do most of my work on Ubuntu platform and also help to promote it. So, if you are a student and would like to get into working with great folks on cool open source software, I would recommend you check the Ubuntu website as there's always something for anyone to help with. You don't have to write code, it could be anything from just using the software and reporting blogs, to proofreading.

Watch the video below, see how people are using Linux ...and be part of that movement.

Learn You a Haskell for Great Good!: A Beginner's Guide

2011-04-13T07:46:00.000-07:00

We all know that since Oracle took over Sun, things have not been the same in the Java world - the JCP has effectively lost its mojo, companies that once relied on Java are having to consider other languages that are not tied to one company. In fact, the future of Java is not as rock solid as it used to be, say a couple of years back. What a shame!

I have been developing in Java for well over 9 years, but since the last two, my attention has moved to Python and Ruby...mainly because I thought it was important to keep learning and updating my programming skills.

One thing in the software industry is that if you do not update your skills with latest languages and technologies, you can quickly find yourself rotting in away with just one or two programming skills under your belt. You need to continually learning - your employers will NEVER push you to update your skill. And how better to do it than to see what others are using and try to update as well.

One of the languages outside Python, Ruby, Scala and C# that you might want to look at is Haskell.

There's a new book on Haskell that just hit the shelves, and it covers everything you'll need to start using it in anger. Being the Programming language nerd that I am, I have bought the book after spending weeks on the online version. I love the feel of the real book, flipping through pages, making notes and generally picking a chapter to focus on.

This Learn You a Haskell for Great Good! is written in a way that is very simple for even a beginner to pick up quite fast. Once you've covered the book, you can move to more advanced topics such as the Real World Heskell by Bryan O'Sullivan, John Goerzen and Don Stewart.

If you have been seriously thinking of updating your programming skills and you like the challenge of not waiting for someone to give you a push, well, now looks like a great way to start. Get yourself a copy of This Learn You a Haskell for Great Good!: A Beginner's Guide! and start today.

Canon PowerShot SX130IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 12x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom with 3.0-Inch LCD

2011-04-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

I bought this camera after months of looking at every point and shoot, ultra-zoom and DSLR on Amazon. I knew what I wanted to be able to do, but really didn't want to drop the $1,000+ to get it...I bought this camera a month ago and I have not had one single regret. The negatives that I noticed before I made my decision; like: microphone holes under finger slot, AA batteries, difficult to find the various options within menus, etc. I personally do not find these as negative.

It does take a little work to learn the menus and where the features are located, but no more than the menus on your DVD or new LCD television. A far as the AA battery situation, I purchased the Sanyo Eneloop brand AA and AAA and LOVE THEM VERY MUCH!! They are awesome. If you get this camera, you must get the Eneloops.

I've taken over 3500 pics in the first 2 weeks and I love every single one! The features of being able to manipulate the colors, the smart face recognition, smile detection/wink detection...all of these things you would expect to find on a much more expensive camera. I purchased this for $176 and I could not be more pleased.

If you are looking for a great digital camera under $200 with features...all kinds of great features, then this is the one for you. Luckily, Amazon is doing a deal on this camera, so you are in luck. Go grab one now before they all run out. The price won't remain this low for the rest of the week; I'm sure of that - or you may want to see which other one is on offer.

Click here to buy now.

Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty - Collector's Edition (PC & Mac)

2011-04-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Quite simply put, this game is a near perfect, balanced experience.
Take the original uniqueness of Starcraft: Wings of Liberty - Collector's Edition . Add massive improvements in graphics, and an even more considered and careful approach to the level designs, and you have SC2. It would be little use for me to wax lyrical about this game, many other people/reviewers/websites have already done this. For what it is, it is perfect for the job. Excellent level design, longevity, excellent music and FX and great acting. If you like action RTS games, you'll like this.

If we move on to the multiplayer, the options are considerable, with lots of achievements to aim for and endless options for 2/3/4/5/6/7 or 8 player games, with friends or the rest of your assigned global quadrant ( only EU players can play other EU players, or only USA players can play USA players etc etc )

Once the single player campaign is done, you will find more depth and longevity in the multiplayer or singleplayer skirmish modes. I myself have spent lots of time in these modes and have enjoyed every minute.

Whichever edition of this game you get will offer you great value for money, and this is an RTS experience that has simply re-written the rules. I wait in confidence for Blizz to do the same with WOW-Cataclysm. If only they would fix the twinks in PVP and get rid of gearscore.

Starcraft 2. Recommended beyond any doubt - Clcik here to buy it.

Reading Techical Books On Kindle

2011-04-11T03:48:00.000-07:00

I love my Amazon Kindle 3G - when I first bought it, I didn't think it was going to be a fun gadget to have all the time. It now goes with me everywhere...I use it to read some of the free ebooks I downloaded from Amazon, and others I bought.

However, there's a little issue I have with it when reading some of the technical .pdf books I transferred across to the device. Over the years, some publishers have sent me copies of the books in .pdf for reviews. They open nicely on my desktop and laptop, but are not displaying properly on Kindle. The usual code formatting is gone, instead, you have all the code left adjusted and the syntax highlighting is not showing as well.

Just wondering, is it just me or has anyone else experienced this sort of display issue? The diagrams in these .pdf files don't show up where they are meant to show. A bit pissed really - any tips on how you solved yours if you had this sort of display problem?

Ubuntu App Developer Week - Free To Join

2011-04-10T10:59:00.000-07:00

Last week, I posted a note that we will be having a whole week of free Ubuntu App Developer classes. This is open to everyone - it allows us to discuss how to develop applications that run on the Ubuntu Linux desktop computer. If you have been wondering how tools are developed for this platform, now is your chance to find out and hopefully have fun whilst getting your hands dirty in the process.

This free online programme runs for the whole of this week - lots of guys will be there to show you everything you've always wanted to know and more. If you have any question or an app idea, bring them all along with you and we will try our best to address them.

The focus of this Ubuntu App Developer week is to enable developers - beginners and advanced - to scratch their itches by helping them put together various applications; and showcase the wide range of development tools on the Ubuntu platform. We will also present other applications that have already been developed and talk about how they were written.

Be sure to join us from the 11th of April if you'd like to take part in the Ubuntu App Developer Week.

Latest WordPress 3.1.1 Available for Download

2011-04-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

Wordpress, the worlds most widely used blogging platform has released the latest version 3.1.1. It is now available for download. As you can see, this blog does not use it, but a lot others out there run on the very popular wordpress platform.

According to their update log, this release fixes over 30 security and maintenance issues which include:

Some security hardening to media uploads
Performance improvements
Fixes for IIS6 support
Fixes for taxonomy and PATHINFO (/index.php/) permalinks
Fixes for various query and taxonomy edge cases that caused some plugin compatibility issues

One very important issue fixed is the media uploader hole - this ensures that media files are properly checked prior to granting access and allowed to run on the system.

If you run your site on an older version, you may want to update now as older versions could be open to exploits. If you host with some of the major hosting providers, upgrading is very easy - it takes just a click of a button and you're running the latest version.

Note: this post is not to alert you that there's an update - of course you usually see a notice on your dashboard. But this post is to simply draw your attention to some of the security and maintenance issues fixed in the update.

Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention

2011-04-06T04:34:00.000-07:00

Years in the making-the definitive biography of the legendary black activist.

Of the great figure in twentieth-century American history perhaps none is more complex and controversial than Malcolm X. Constantly rewriting his own story, he became a criminal, a minister, a leader, and an icon, all before being felled by assassins' bullets at age thirty-nine. Through his tireless work and countless speeches he empowered hundreds of thousands of black Americans to create better lives and stronger communities while establishing the template for the self-actualized, independent African American man. In death he became a broad symbol of both resistance and reconciliation for millions around the world.

Manning Marable's new biography of Malcolm is a stunning achievement. Filled with new information and shocking revelations that go beyond the Autobiography, Malcolm X unfolds a sweeping story of race and class in America, from the rise of Marcus Garvey and the Ku Klux Klan to the struggles of the civil rights movement in the fifties and sixties. Reaching into Malcolm's troubled youth, it traces a path from his parents' activism through his own engagement with the Nation of Islam, charting his astronomical rise in the world of Black Nationalism and culminating in the never-before-told true story of his assassination. Malcolm X will stand as the definitive work on one of the most singular forces for social change, capturing with revelatory clarity a man who constantly strove, in the great American tradition, to remake himself anew.

About the Author

Manning Marable is M. Moran Weston and Black Alumni Council Professor of African American Studies and professor of history and public affairs at Columbia University. He was founding director of African American Studies at Columbia from 1993 to 2003. Since 2002, he has directed Columbia's Center for Contemporary Black History. The author of fifteen books, Marable is also the editor of the quarterly journal Souls.

Hungry Girl 300 Under 300: 300 Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Dishes Under 300 Calories

2011-04-05T15:21:00.000-07:00

If I had a nickel for every time that phrase came out of my mouth, I'd be a wealthy woman! I really, really like this book!

I made my first recipe today for breakfast, the Bean 'N Cheesy Soft Taco in an Egg Mug. I usually have Egg Beaters every morning for breakfast, so it wasn't a big departure for me. I definitely liked the Mexican flavor as a wake-me-up, and, with under 200 calories, it was a protein-packed, low-cal way to start the day. I can't wait to try out the Ten-Alarm Southwestern Corn Chowder, Crock-Pot Cinna-Apples 'N Oats, Crock-Pot Fake-Baked Beans, and Crock-Pot Coq Au Vin, too!

I lost 35 pounds last year, and Hungry Girl recipes and food recommendations were a big part of that. Some reviewers have knocked Lisa's practice of name brand name dropping. I actually really appreciate it, because then I know what product she used to get her calorie totals and therefore, what to search for at the grocery store. She admits up front she is not a nutritionist (she doesn't call herself Healthy Girl!), so the people who knock her for her "unnatural" ingredients need to get over it -- her books are about low calories.

No one is going to be healthy eating too many calories! And although I don't care for some of her ingredient choices (the tofu shirataki noodles and Cool Whip come to mind), I either modify the recipes to meet my tastes, or I select another from her myriad of choices!

Keep it up, Hungry Girl!!

JavaScript: The Good Parts

2011-04-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

Most programming languages contain good and bad parts, but JavaScript has more than its share of the bad, having been developed and released in a hurry before it could be refined. This authoritative book scrapes away these bad features to reveal a subset of JavaScript that's more reliable, readable, and maintainable than the language as a whole-a subset you can use to create truly extensible and efficient code.

Considered the JavaScript expert by many people in the development community, author Douglas Crockford identifies the abundance of good ideas that make JavaScript an outstanding object-oriented programming language-ideas such as functions, loose typing, dynamic objects, and an expressive object literal notation. Unfortunately, these good ideas are mixed in with bad and downright awful ideas, like a programming model based on global variables.

When Java applets failed, JavaScript became the language of the Web by default, making its popularity almost completely independent of its qualities as a programming language. In JavaScript: The Good Parts, Crockford finally digs through the steaming pile of good intentions and blunders to give you a detailed look at all the genuinely elegant parts of JavaScript, including:

Syntax
Objects
Functions
Inheritance
Arrays
Regular expressions
Methods
Style
Beautiful features

The real beauty? As you move ahead with the subset of JavaScript that this book presents, you'll also sidestep the need to unlearn all the bad parts. Of course, if you want to find out more about the bad parts and how to use them badly, simply consult any other JavaScript book.

With JavaScript: The Good Parts, you'll discover a beautiful, elegant, lightweight and highly expressive language that lets you create effective code, whether you're managing object libraries or just trying to get Ajax to run fast. If you develop sites or applications for the Web, this book is an absolute must.

About the Author

Douglas Crockford is a Senior JavaScript Architect at Yahoo!, well known for introducing and maintaining the JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) format. He's a regular speaker at conferences on advanced JavaScript topics, and serves on the ECMAScript committee.

Always pay off debts with savings

2011-04-04T08:12:00.000-07:00

Most people who try and save while they're in debt are simply throwing their money away; even if the debt is a mortgage.
The amount of interest you pay to borrow is much more than you earn on your savings, so pay the debt off with your savings and you're quids in.

How much?
Someone with $5,000 on a credit card and $5,000 saved is likely to be $700 a year better off by paying off the debt with the savings. This is a typical example of how most people can save just by looking at how much of their debt can be paid off.

Another thing you should explore is how much other banks will pay you in interest if you moved your account over to them. In credit card business, loyalty does not pay - most providers give great introductory rates to new customers. So simply by closing your account and re-registering could net you anything around $200 a year.

In this hard economic times, it's worth shopping around for better credit card rates than what your current provider is offer.

Working From Home - Why You Should Consider It!

2011-04-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

Working From Home - For some people, working Monday to Friday, 7 days a week is not something they would consider. They would rather not work at all than to be stuck in an office for a whole day, come home tired and not able to read bed time stories to the kids. But for some, they love the routine of daily commute; just soaking up the office environment, networking, generating wealth and pumping up ones ego.

That is all great if you are still single and have no young family to bring up. But once there's a family, the whole plan changes. So, how do you ensure that you keep the job you love and still manage to spend quality time with the family? Well, you could decide to pack it all in and look for something closer to home, ask that your hours be reduced...or you could ask to be moved to a branch office where the work load is less.

How about working from home. Since the explosion of the internet and free VOIP and cheap broadband network, most people have been taking the opportunity to change their working life. Traditionally, most people had to commute to work every single day, but that is now changing. In fact, a recent poll showed that more than 10% of the computing and financial professionals regularly work from home.This of course is still very low when there should be more people doing it.

Why you should consider working from home -
There are many reasons why one should consider working from home; not only does it save you money and stress in the long term, it also allows you to work in an environment that you are most happy - your home. The stresses of commuting and daily round trip is reduced. The time you would normally spend on the road could be spent on something else. As most developers know, a great deal of code can be written within just 2 hours. This is the average time that a typical commuter spends on the road on a daily basis.

Apart from that, it is believed that most people's home computers are in most cases more powerful than their office equipments. You get to use your own computer configuration that you know and trust. Another plus with working from home is that it allows you to focus on working on the problem domain with little or no distractions like noise and chatter from across the cubicle.

The most important reason of all is to be able to spend that vital quality time with your kid(s). For me, my kids are my priority - and to be able to spend time with them means I don't have to live my life in my 17 inch laptop backpack.

Who works from home?
But you don't need to have a young family for you to work from home. All sorts of people choose to work from home for different reasons - again, these could be because they are disabled and need the flexibility to work in an environment where there's little or no obstacle to their mobility. Others do it because, as mentioned before, they are more productive in their own home office.

So, what are the downsides?
Well, despite the long list of benefits of working from home, there are a few gotchas -
For a start, it is easy to work beyond your normal 9 -5 hours because you are in a home environment. And remember, any extra time you put into your work may not count and won't get paid for it. You may even end up not spending the time working on your office project as there's no one to monitor your progress.

A few people have found themselves working at night because they spent the day on things entirely outside their office project. Because you used your own electricity, broadband, telephone and VOIP, who pays the bills? These are some of the things one needs to consider before working from home.

The Take away -
While working with colleagues together under the same roof in an office is important, you should also consider working from home. Speak to your manager and if possible help put a system in place to encourage flexible working environment. As lots of researches have shown, to be really productive developers need to be in an environments that is not only flexible, but a place where they are free to roam, be creative and feel very much at home.

Dragon Age 2

2011-04-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

I am not sure this game is better than DA:O. Don't get me wrong, I love this game! But, I also loved DA Origins before it. Thats said, I would recommend this game for anyone that has enjoyed any Bioware RPG in the past. Obviously, like with most Bioware games, if you can buy the game for PC do that instead. I couldn't, so i got the console version, and I am pretty happy with it.

THE GOOD:

The graphics for the game are much, much improved over the first one. This time around, there is (not accounting for mods by Bioware or the community) very little difference between the graphic quality of the console version and the PC one. On the Xbox, the game no longer look like someone covered the whole world in a thin layer of mud and everyone around you was in some sort of terrible disfiguring accident.

The gameplay is flexible. You can play this game as an action game (mostly) or more as a strategy game (my personal recommendation). Obviously I am biased because I loved the first instalment, which was almost impossible to play as a real-time action game. The combat feels great in both cases and the game really benefits from it.

The combat looks fluid and interesting. The first game's combat animation was boxy and awkward, this one is sleek and sexy.

The dialogue is AMAZING. Being the kings of gameplay voice-acting and dialogue, Bioware rarely get any point for this anymore, because it has to be mentioned. The writing (at far as what the characters say and how it is delivered) is witty and near flawless. This game will make you laugh and laugh.

The game has tons of re-playability. Not only can you play as different classes that approach combat differently, you can also redo some decisions you made throughout the game that change the dialogue and how people interact with you. Also, keeping with Bioware's recent emphasis on continuity, your decisions from Origins slightly affect the world of DA2. Its neat to see how your choices affect people. If you didn't play Origins, you can choose from a variety of backstory options.

THE BAD:

The level designers were lazier than anything I have seen in years. Yes, level design is hard work. Yes, the game levels that are well made are interesting and pretty. But no, you are not allowed to reuse level templates as much as they do in this game! I didn't think I would mind myself, but wow was I wrong. Near the end of the game you feel more like you are some escaped mental patient running around the same hospital room over and over again living out a delusion of medieval fancy. There are times when the level rehash breaks the suspension of disbelief so much that the game even comments on it.

The story isn't nearly as good as the first one. It doesn't feel as grand and all encompassing as the first. No fate of the world hanging in the balance kind of thing. can't get into too much more without spoilers, so I'll leave it at that.

The bugs can be pretty bad. As of the writing of this review, two of your possible companion characters are bugged so that if you are super good friends with them, there is a chance that they will cripple your character to the point of ruining your game. Due to some funky code, your friends can accidentally lower your stats and basically make is impossible to win in combat. worst part is, this happens really late in the game, potentially killing hours of time (do I sound bitter? I may be a tad bitter). Bioware has always been good about patching these sort of crippling bugs, but right now they are still at large.

The romance is shallow. One of the things I loved about the first game, was the ability to connect with some of your party members in a seemingly human way. it wasn't just about the steamy bits, it was about the dialogue afterwards. It was about how other party members reacted to it. This time around, there is the sexy time, and then pretty much nothing until the end of the game. Is it really that insane to want to talk afterwards? Is cuddling really that vile?

The Settlers of Catan - MayFair Games

2011-04-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

The Settlers of Catan - When you first open Catan game, you may be a little underwhelmed by the prevalence of cardboard pieces (I wish there was a more durable wood version of the board tiles) and the seemingly complicated rule book. I admit, there were a few minor questions it didn't answer that I had to go to the website to figure out from the Q&A section.

With that being said: Never fear! The positives far outweigh those criticisms.

The rule book covers all of the basics you'll need to know to start playing, and, after giving it a good read through, you should be ready to play, even if only one person has the time to read it. Everyone I've played with learns quickly from my basic description of the rules and picks up the rest naturally and intuitively throughout the game.

For some reason, the new person to play The Settlers of Catan game always seems to win in the games I play. Perhaps that speaks poorly of my Catan skills, but, on a positive note, it has contributed greatly to the game's popularity with my friends. You can use a suggested set-up for new players and then after a game or two you can try more advanced set ups... that is a random set up of the board. The coolest thing about Catan is simply that unlike Monopoly the board changes every time you play if you set up the tiles randomly (see the above illustration provided by Amazon). It makes each game challenging and unique and fun to play.

Warning, the game can be a little cutthroat as you vie with other players to occupy the best areas of the board and as you use the "robber" piece to steal cards from other players. Still, everyone's had fun with it and there are ways to adjust the game to make it suitable for kids to play too without hurt feelings.

The Settlers of Catan is the first "Euro" style strategy game I have ever played and I already think it is much better than Risk, though I'd still give "Diplomacy" the edge in terms of my favorite strategy board game. This game is hands down better than your typical American game, from Monopoly to Life, and a nice change of pace from the games that seem to be most popular with the 20s crowd these days: Cranium, Scene-It, and Banagrams.

Also, you can play The Settlers of Catan game with two players as there is an official variant designed by Klaus Teber himself available online with some searching. Still, I'd recommend playing with 3-4 if at all possible because the two player version is not as interactive in that the voluntary trading phase of each player's turn doesn't exist and is replaced by a forced trading mechanism using tokens.

Click here to buy

Garmin Forerunner 405 Review - Garmin Forerunner 301

2011-03-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

I purchased this Garmin Forerunner 405 at the begining of February 2011. I started running in the fall of 2010 and was interested in measuring and monitoring my progress. I purchased the Nike+ Sportband at first and used this as my primary training tool for both indoor and outdoor runs until I bought this.

The problem with a non-GPS unit was some inconsistency in measuring my distance on a treadmill vs my natural outdoor stride. I still use the Sportband for indoor runs but decided I wanted to get more accurate data as I begin to train outside with changes to topography and measurements of heart rates, etc.

I logged my first run (a 7 miler) with quite a lot of variation in elevation and was interested to see how accurate and effective this was tracked. I was very pleased with the results. I have since used this Garmin Forerunner 405 on all but all of my long distance runs (I am up to 10 miles with a planned 1/2 marathon next week) and have found the data to be consistent in terms of my overall pace and I can see how I am progressing.

The device itself is fairly easy to use for its basic functions. I have not yet delved into the mapping/navigation functions. It is very light to wear and you hardly notice it when running despite its size. The heart monitor is not uncomfortable and it does help show you how hard you are working (however the basic screen heart information is quite small although this may be customizable within the settings).

One of the benefits is when uploading to the Garmin Connect site. Not just for monitoring your training but also to look for routes that you want to try yourself. Now that I am training for longer runs I am looking around my zipcode and seeing runs of the distance that I want to run. Having the ability to plan runs ahead of time and print a map (I tuck it into my shorts in case I get lost) is very helpful so you can know your range and direction in advance of getting out the door.

Overall, for an amateur runner this Garmin Forerunner 405 is a great tool and the price is right vs the newer models. Highly recommended.

Python String Formatting

2011-03-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

In the last couple of projects at work, my focus has really been on using Python more rather than the usual Java that most of our work is written in. I have been developing in Java for the past 6 year, and have recently thought about taking on a project that didn't require Java at all.

The idea came after I read the seven languages in seven weeks - if you haven't seen the book, I would suggest you pick up a copy. It's a great resource for someone like myself whose whole development life was based on Java. Worth every penny.

So, one of the few gotchas you come across when you start working with Python is indentation error - this happens quite often if you are not using an IDE that indents the code for you. Unlike other languages, Python explicitly enforces the use of indentation. It trips up many beginners and not easy to spot.

Another thing I find fascinating is the string formatting - I have used

"%s %d" % (var,num)
and
"{0} {1}".format(var,num)

...but wondering which of the two folks prefer.
The .format() version seems much easier to understand, more elegant to work with, but it is not backward compartable. If you have Python 2.6 of below, the first one would be better. Python 3 and above support the format() version which means that if you are running Python 3, you should not be using anything other than the format().

I prefer the format() version, but the problem we have now is that our version at work is still Python 2.6; so no one is looking to upgrade. With half of the developers working on different projects, I think this might be the right time to ask if we could upgrade.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ35 12.1MP Digital Camera with 18x POWER Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD

2011-03-30T02:18:00.000-07:00

I know very little camera lingo talk. In fact, I don't even know the technical wording for all the mechanical functions and capabilities of products such as this. So, if you're looking for a fancy review...you will be sorely disappointed. (I'm apologizing in advance). If you're looking for a simplistic review that anyone can understand...my review may be right up your alley.

First, I typically keep my electronics for as long as they're functioning. I really don't care if I have the latest and greatest piece of equipment, so when I had to buy a new camera because mine was on the fritz....I was overwhelmed by the variety I had to choose from.

I had tried numerous "pocket cameras", but few impressed me enough to make me want to buy them. The couple that I did buy, went straight back to the store, due to poor quality pictures. The larger cameras (such as this one) were either far too pricey, or, again, the picture quality left much to be desired. So, when I stumbled across the reviews of this camera, I thought that I should give this one a try. I am incredibly glad I did!

When this camera arrived, I wasted no time in opening it (so patience isn't one of my virtues). I immediately figured out how to start snapping pictures. Granted, I had to let the battery charge first, (UGH! More waiting..granted, it really didn't take that long...but once again, I'm impatient, and I think a little added drama adds to the excitement of this review.)

The pictures have come out crisp, clear, and extremely detailed. Not to mention, with the correct color. Even in low light, this camera functions like a champ! If you want the flash, you simply push in the button, and "VOILA"! The flash pops up. Another exciting feature I LOVE about this camera is the fact that it takes picture after picture VERY quickly! (This was my biggest complaint with my last camera, as it was slow to take the next shot.) The optical zoom is amazing! I have taken exquisite pictures of objects that were too far for me to see well, and the pictures are focused, clear, and almost like they're from a magazine.

Though it is a little bulky, ( I personally prefer my cameras this way), it is by far, the BEST camera for the price! Now, that's not to say that it's better than some of those SLR cameras that a person like myself, will never be able to afford, BUT, if you want excellent pictures, a sturdy product, a nice variety of functions, and an easy-to use camera that won't put you in the poor house...then this is the ideal camera for you! That's all I have for now....I'm sure I have left out some important key features, but I am off to play with this camera some more, so that I can "wow" my friends and family with my photographic skills.

Buy one now

The Troubled Man by Henning Mankell

2011-03-29T01:56:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago I received, read and reviewed The Man From Beijing by Henning Mankell for the Vine program. I gave it five stars and was so impressed with Mr. Mankell's abilities that I immediately purchased one of his Kurt Walllander novels. The Troubled Man might well be described as the story of Kurt Wallander's last case, for in it the detctive is coping with the onset of his own old age, dementia, and losses as well as attempting to solve a case at hand.

Characters from earlier novels who were significant in Wallander's life make return appearances either as real people, such as Wallander's ex wife, or in memory such as his deceased father and in each case some sort of resolution of the relationship is accomplished. It speaks much of Mankell's skills that if it is a character that was in that earlier novel he or she was so well drawn that they quickly return to memory as old acquaintances, and if they were in a book yet unread I was drawn to read that book. As in all excellent novels, The Troubled Man, drew me in quickly and kept me enthralled to the end, an end that I was sorry to reach as I missed being with the characters.

The Troubled Man is also the story of a mystery. As such it is well plotted held my attention to the end and, if in the end, it does not supply all answers, it supplies enough answers to satisfy.

I recommend this book wholeheartedly to one and all. I purposely have omitted a summary of its plot and suggest you avoid all such summaries letting Henning Mankeell tell his story in his own way.

The Pragmatic Programmer: From Journeyman to Master

2011-03-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

The Pragmatic Programmer is not going to blow your mind the way inching through a book on machine learning or functional programming or . But it will give you insight into how to be a better developer at the job you're in. Some of the information/advice is a bit dated - almost everyone uses version control, which the book argues passionately in favor of. At present, should you find a company which doesn't use version control, DO NOT WORK THERE.

That said, it is interesting to see what wasn't considered matter-of-fact for development jobs when the book was written. However, most of the material is timeless in the way a book on design patterns is timeless. DRY (Do not Repeat Yourself) and orthogonal code will likely never go out of style, for instance, nor will the power of code generation. And though I say the book is for 'your first development job,' it's probably worth reading even if you're a bit further along in your career (especially given the propensity for switching jobs in this industry).

The principles elaborated in this book will help you do your job. And unlike some developer books, Pragmatic Programmer is easy to read and not prone to fluff or rambling. The exercises in the book (with answers in the back) provide ways to illustrate the principles espoused by the text, which is also helpful.

Get a copy of the book here

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