Why you should choose Inkers...

Through trying several different places to buy my ink cartridges on line, my favorite place to buy from is Inkers. It's more than just because they offer a great selection, I've found their prices to be the lowest and shipping is free. That for me is something I look for whenever I shop online.

Another nice thing about Inkers is their Bucks & Big Bucks rebate program, it's a great way to get an instant rebate when you are stocking up. Which you don't have to worry about quality because Inkers has a one year guarantee against defects and a 30 day no questions asked return policy.

I've never had a problem where I have had to use their customer service but, they are available by phone and I like the fact that they accept paypal since I prefer to use paypal over my credit or debit cards for online purchases. All of these reasons is why Inkers is my favorite place to buy inkjet cartridges...

Another mini accomplishment for me...

Those of you who read my local political blog, Glass City Jungle, know I've been making video slide shows for local candidates who have invited me to attend different fundraisers. It's been a lot of fun but last night I finally tested out the DVD burner aspect of my computer that lets me put these videos on a DVD. Amazing quality compared to what you end up with through YouTube and even Google.

:-)

Do online relationships work?

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AMA Won't Call Video Gaming an Addiction

I have mixed emotions on this one as with anything people can become overly obsessed and addicted, I do know several people who either as young adults or parents of teens who dealt with a problem with excessive game playing. To the point where jobs were lost or grades seriously degraded and when the game playing was taken away they did go through withdrawl symptoms...

Yet, Wired is reporting The AMA says more research is needed. It's an interesting article, that I recommend reading...

More buzz about new Police CD

First, watching the video will get you in the right mood...



Now if you were not one of the lucky ones who won the double disc compilation Police CD, which was released on June 5th, you are going to want to get yours now. It's said this set also comes with a vintage poster, though mine didn't have the vintage poster which makes me want to buy a second one so I can get the poster. Yes, I want to bring back those memories of high school when you'd have the poster on your bedroom wall.

I've really enjoyed listening to the CD's, it has all of my favorite police songs on it and I've even gotten my daughters to the point where they actually sing along with some of the songs. Roxanne has become a favorite to belt out by the bunch of us.

I was disappointed that both of the concerts where the Police would be playing live near me sold out, but I've heard great reviews from those who were able to attend shows on their current Tour. For me? Once I get the vintage poster, I can pop in the CD's, crank them up loud and pretend that I am at the concert, having my handy bic lighter ready for those encore moments...which when you are listening to the Police? You never want that concert moment to end...

Bear Stearns creating concern...

Doing the typical, "it can never happen to me" the recent problems at Bear Stearns is creating a small amount of concern that the same thing could happen to other hedge funds. While it is many the more richer elite that invest in these types of funds if there is a larger scale failure? People that don't have a diverse enough portfolio could be facing some very rough times...and it could hit us regular folk as well:

The bailout by Bear Stearns is one of the largest such moves since Wall Street's investment banks bailed out Long-Term Capital Management in 1998 to avoid a collapse of the broader financial markets.

It is not alone in facing risk from its own hedge fund portfolio, either. Major financial institutions like Goldman Sachs Group Inc., JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Citigroup Inc. also manage tens of billions of dollars in hedge funds, according to Moody's Investors Service.

On Monday, researchers at Citigroup said subprime mortgage bonds issued last year by Goldman were being downgraded by rating agencies at a faster pace than any other issuer.

Defaults on mortgages to risky borrowers have risen to an all-time high, and that's done more than just hurt the long-suffering housing market. It has hurt the ability of banks to package mortgage loans as securities that can be traded — which is something many borrowers don't realize their lender even does.

"This is an unfolding story," said Dick Bove, an analyst with Punk Ziegel. "It might take months to see the effects on a whole range of areas. For banks, it means they'll be less likely to write loans, borrowing costs go up, and ultimately stocks could fall. It's like a wave crashing."

A little known fact about me...

Here's something very few people know about me, at one time almost 25 years ago I went to school to become a realtor. I successfully passed all of the requirements and all I needed to do was to go to Columbus to take the test. Then...I got pregnant with my first child and ended up going in a totally different life path. That's one of the few things that I do regret is not having taken the test but hindsight is a beautiful virtue.

Media and treatment...

It seems as if it's hard to turn on your television and not see the news reporting one star or another is in or out of drug rehabilitation. At times I wonder if that has anything to do with the increasing drug use for the non-celebrities as well as I think about the impact of our children watching these "stars" and can't help wonder what kind of a message that sends to them...

I should have read my horoscope this morning...

Listen to the more conservative side of your nature today, and don't get involved with anything you're not totally sure of. Avoid making any major transactions, whether your money or your heart is concerned. Things that look bright and cheerful right now could be hiding some dark, scary secrets. And something or someone that appears to be a 'sure thing' is most definitely not. Today, you should play it safe -- as they say, it's better to be safe than sorry

Cliffside Malibu is there for you...

If you have ever wondered how severe a problem we have in our country when it comes to drug abuse taking just one look at the many Drug Rehabs out there gives you an immediate wake up call. While some areas of the country do have many services to decide from there are still parts of the country where the waiting lists can be long and the services received end up not meeting the needs of the family or the patient. Not finding the right treatment for that person can create frustration which exacerbates the problems that person and the family is going through.

Cliffside Malibu has different programs because they realize through their years of experience that trying to make a one size fits all drug treatment program doesn't work for many people out there. They also place importance on family because drug abuse can affect a whole family and merely dealing with the drug addiction can't always solve some of the initial problems that were there in the first place. Cliffside Malibu is there for you, and they are only a phone call or an email away to help you or a loved one who is dealing with a substance abuse issue.

On the other Apple...

I'm kind of anxious to see what will be the end result of the release of the iPhone and it's obvious I'm not alone when it comes to wondering will happen as the Industry Awaits 'Revolutionary' IPhone will it be a hit or will it be like some of the mac line that did not meet with the expectations of consumers once it hit the market. If you wonder about that, a quick trip to ebay will let you see how easy it is to get an iMac.

"This is the most anticipated phone since Alexander Graham Bell did his," said Michael Gartenberg, an industry analyst at JupiterResearch. "Part of it is the fascination with Apple's products and how well they design them, but it's also about how poor the design in software is in cell phones now, and how much time Apple has spent working on this."

Soon we'll see what the response is....

To couch or not to couch...

The big debate in our house right now that involves furniture stores is do we get a couch or a sleeper sofa or one of the newer futon type couches that doesn't make our living room look like it's a fraternity house. With the impending visit of my husband's brother from Puerto Rico we really do need something he can sleep on so the couch will probably end up not being a couch unless it's a sleeper couch...

Market Research...

An aspect that sometimes people with a new product either don't spend enough time with or not invest enough money in is market research. You could have the best idea for a product out there but if there is not a market out there for people who want to buy it? Ending up on the discount shelf at your local dollar store doesn't usually end up creating dreams of success, unless of course you own the dollar store...

:-)

Click your bic

Very few campaign slogans end up being the ones that people remember years later. For me when I think about bic pens it's an automatic. "Click your bic". I remember how you were not cool if you did not have one of their multi-color pens that with just one click would give you a variation of colors to select from. Even though now most pens are clickless, it's a wonder how many people remember that saying...

I'd be going first for the coffee...

One of the first things I would look forward to in being able to take advantage of the dream of Hawaiian Vacations would be to enjoy a copy of Kona coffee that I knew came directly from there rather than being transported all the way here to Ohio, then to my coffee maker. Perhaps a few macadamia nuts next since Hawaii is the place that created the love and demand for those tasty nut morsels. While I'm on my idea of a Hawaii food adventure, the next food item would have to be pineapple. It would be amazing to see all of these items grown, so visiting coffee, macadamia and pineapple farms would be a must on my list of things to do. I've also always wondered what it would be like to attend a real luau, we've had fake ones here but I have a feeling ours were very lacking compared to what it would be like to experience this in Hawaii. Then of course one has to mention the huge amounts of seafood that you would be able to enjoy that would not be the same as home. I haven't even mentioned any of the non-culinary reasons to visit Hawaii but as I stop focusing on the food aspect, I'll also mention that there are some great deals for Hawaiian Beach Rentals because you of course want the perfect place to be able to sip that coffee from...

US worries about a different Apple coming from over seas...

US Apple growers are becoming increasingly concerned with the potential of China's increasing apple sales basically putting them out of business since they can not compete with a flood of Chinese apples.

They are also trying for more federal dollars, which I have to admit I have mixed emotions on. Some of the details from this Excite News Money feature:

With the Farm Bill up for renewal this year for the first time since 2002, apple growers are pressing for an unprecedented amount of federal funding to develop technologies to make harvesting less costly, and aid to develop overseas markets.

Even before new questions were raised this year about how well China enforces food safety rules, some growers were also pressing the U.S. government to require country-of-origin stickers on all apples.

"We're facing a threat that we've never faced before in terms of their ability to come in and essentially replace every apple that we produce in this country numerically and at a much lower cost," said John Rice, a seventh-generation grower whose grandfather made money in the Depression era by gathering apples from area growers and shipping them to England in 100-pound barrels.

Rice's family today owns 1,000 acres of orchards and packs and markets apples for 50 area growers primarily in Pennsylvania's historic growing area in Adams County, on the Maryland border.

"We have to lower our costs and we have to do what other successful business have done in the face of Chinese competition and that is to innovate, to stay ahead, to either grow new varieties that they don't grow in China, or whatever it takes," Rice said.

Fifteen years ago, China grew fewer apples than the United States. Today, it grows five times as many — nearly half of all apples grown in the world.

China's advantage is its cheap labor. A picker makes about 28 cents an hour, or $2 per day, according to the U.S. Apple Association. In 2005, workers in Pennsylvania made about $9 to $10 per hour, and those in Washington state about $14 per hour, the association said.

Plastic surgery and breast enlargement

Whether you think it's a blessing or a curse, technology has advanced to the point that there are surgeons who specialize in results from plastic surgery that years ago would have taken longer or sometimes not been possible at all. This has given many more people the opportunity to do things they before would have only dreamed of, such as a beverly hills breast enlargement

Rodeo Drive Plastic Surgeons is the location many people trust as their Beverly Hills plastic surgery location but they are not just all about surgery they have other treatments such as their Nonsurgical Skin Rejuvenation. This innovative way of developing surgical procedures such as the California breast augmentation and non-surgical treatments that has gained them quite a bit of publicity and news coverage even by Fortune Magazine. Their motto is, "We treat everyone like a celebrity" and if you read their testimonials, that appears to be something that they deliver. Their website contains quite a bit of information as to the different procedures, so it's a recommended place to visit if you want to learn more about Beverly Hills breast enlargement or any one of their other procedures.

More moving making experiences

We were lucky enough to have had a great way to view the dedication of the Veteran's Glass City Skyway Bridge this morning. Miguel took over 200 pictures some of which I put to music as a slide show that is linked over on Glass City Jungle. Thankfully the weather was not unbearable as being up that high on the bridge it was actually a little chilly this morning. There was some concern as to the heat being an issue. I actually remembered to put suntan lotion on the parts of me that got burned during the Point Place Days Parade. Probably why it was not that sunny or hot until later (smile).

More great ways to save money...

Shopping online not only saves you time but also can save you money, especiall if you know the right places to go to get promotional codes. These codes can be discounts off certain merchandise, free shipping, percentages off of an order, and other ways that you can save as an online shopper. There are also great deals out there that at times are only available online. Trying to keep track of what is out there can be frustrating at times however, thanks to Keep Cash it's a simple as signing up for their weekly newsletter so that you can get right to your email box notification of what you can save on. Like one of my favorite places to buy books, Alibris, using Keep Cash you have several options to save. Keep Cash also updates daily, so it's always smart before you shop online to see how much more you can save...

Biggest initial public offering in five years

The biggest initial public offering in five years happened yesterday with the launch of Blackstone Group to I'd say a nice successful starting up with the stock rising to $38 on a volume of 113 million shares. The stock closed at $35. Private equity firms are starting to go public with stock options but it's felt that Blackstone's success Friday will make even more of them considering this type of a move...

Building Virtual Sand Castles...

While of course there is nothing better than building real sand castles which is the real purpose behind creating a way to Build A Sandcastle online, since it will make you think about booking your vacation through one of the Beaches Family Resorts, it was fun. I had my 12 year old help me, well actually I let her do it herself since she is very websavy. We came up with the following design:



It's a great way to demonstrate that Beaches Family All-Inclusive Resorts are really that, family oriented. The sand castle game is really easy to operate and I can see where children would have fun creating more than one then want Mom and Dad to take them to one of the resorts pictured. Listening to the sounds that they provide with the ocean and the gulls, it made me wish for a beach vacation. Or you could use the eCard as a way to hint to grandma and grandpa that a family vacation at all inclusive resort would be quite a bit of fun.

The cute little accessories you can add to the sand castle were what my daughter liked the most, she would have added many more flags and starfish and in fact I would predict right about now she's on her computer upstairs doing just that. So if you enjoy building sand castles, are planning on taking a vacation with your family soon or just like dreaming about the many places you could go? Head on over and Build A Sandcastle of your own and check out some of the great deals offered there on family vacations.

Hacking Harry Potter...

The Harry Potter hype has even hit my city, when you go to the grocery store there is a sign that counts down the dys to the release of the book. So it should come as no surprise that a hacker claims to have found the secret. Yet the publisher states it might not be true. In the end? It builds more discussion which makes me think the hacker and the PR people have the same interest...

:-)

Okay, so maybe I better stick to watching the Reno 911 Dvd

As a part of their promotional website on the newly released DVD for Reno 911! Miami The Movie, there are four games you can select from to play online. I decided after reading about all four games that I would try my hand at the "Calling All Units Mayhem". It became obvious that I was not cut out to do the game the right way as I had problems getting my car to go straight, and even the game taunted me...My message was:

"Man are you out of shape! You totally ran out of energy trying to catch the Bad Guys. I suggest you take a leave of absence and spend some time at the gym before coming back to work, Lardo!"

I cost the City over $46,000 from the amount of damage I did running into things, which means I cost them more than my salary of $23,400. So I think it's safe to say that I'm much better off to watch the DVD where no skill on my part is required other than working the DVD remote. Or since I seem to have such a huge problem with buttons? Having my husband or one of my children press the button for the DVD player...I can also guarantee that watching Reno 911! Miami The Movie would be more entertaining than trying to watch me play any of the games, and if you want to play the games? I can also guarantee that you'll probably do much better than I did on that too. Just try not to gloat though, I've already been called "Lardo" today and I might just have to practice to regain my ego.

Vista making changes to the way it searches

I'm not one of those that likes a lot of stuff on my computer windows, already on my Vista there is the google search window because I use Firefox and down at the bottom an HP search engine that says "Yahoo Search". Then there is as the article from Fox News in the title link, describes an additional Window Vista search option when looking for items on my computer. I'm getting used to Vista but I can't say I'm seeing why people thought it was so cool. XP was still an easier to use operating system and cooperated better with my other home computers. If I had it to do all over again, I would have requested this new HP not have Vista...

I would rely on my girl scout training to survive...

The challenge? How would I survive if I were stranded in a City were I had no friends. Having spent years as a Girl Scout and then later in life wilderness backpacking in my before children days, such a task is not daunting. It's even easier now with the many places you can go online for free, I would check for traveler's organizations since many provide free services for those stranded without money. If no such place was available, I'd use one of my best attributes...my personality! Even if I was trapped in a land where English was not spoken there are ways to communicate basic human needs.

Having spent some time helping the homeless I've learned from their experiences, shelter is easily created if some cardboard can be found. Public bathrooms a good place to do a quick freshen up, almost every city has a soup kitchen and if not? I know from my hiking and girl scout days which greens found along the road are edible, dandelion salad as one example, or in the more fall season nuts or if necessary? I've heard bugs are a high source of protein.

Starting June 28th Michael Weston from USA Network's Burn Notice will show you how he can survive a similar fate. Will he be as creative as me? Will he forage for dandelions and nuts? Tune in to find out...

Wow, winning a hunk of rust....

Unfortunately the dreams of those who put the 1957 Plymouth Belvedere into the ground 50 years ago with the idea of awarding the car and a savings account that was $100.00 at the time the car was put into the ground to the winner of whoever in 1957 guessed what the population of Tulsa would be today were crushed. It appears that the protective wrapping that was supposed to protect the car, failed :

Would-be auto restorers unwrapped 1950s-era protective covering from the mud-caked relic onstage Friday evening at the Tulsa Convention Center, revealing a ruined hulk with rotting upholstery, collapsed suspension, flat tires and an engine that appeared to be a solid chunk of rust.

Pet insurance has come a long way...

There was a time when if you mentioned the topic of pet insurance, chances are people would laugh at you and think you were very pet oriented to the point of being a crazy cat ladyish sort. Yet with medical technology more and more people are able to access medical care for their pets which can extend their life. However, most of this care is not inexpensive, which is why more people are turning to pet health insurance as a necessary purchase. We experienced a situation years ago where one of our cats required a very expensive surgery. In our case the vet was able to work with us to make payments but that is not always an option and had it not been for our long term relationship with that particular vet our cat would have died.

Art too close to real life?

It appears that an art display that involves 31 life size statues of a naked Antony Gormley are causing quite a stir in London, not just because the statues are naked but because they are on roof tops and people have been calling believing that someone could be contemplating suicide.

The most pressing question has been when will the display come down...

Making Learning Fun...

Part of the key to teaching a child, especially during the summer months is that it has to be creative and fun. You have to be able to inspire a child to want to excel and that is one of the many reasons parents turn to Score and their Innovative Tutor program. Whether your child just needs a boost in their educational self confidence or is struggling with one topic that they need remedial help with, many parents turn to Score because they have a proven record of success. Every parent I know that has used Score has highly recommended them and that says something about them...

The Yes Men strike again...

This time, the Yes Men stage an press conference where they announce that burning dead bodies is the solution to our energy crisis.

If you have never heard of the Yes Men reading the interview at Wired will give you some insight into what they are trying to accomplish and the reasons why.

Memories maybe beautiful and yet...

Now that I've made you think of the song "The Way We Were", this post isn't about that kind of memory. Personal memories can't be purchased and if something were to happen where you could not remember them, they would be gone forever. That's not the same case when it comes to computer memory, you can upgrade or purchase more, and there are many different kinds out there such as IBM memory. At times I wonder what it would be like if we could purchase more additional memory for our human brains...

The importance of budgeting...

We recently had to re-do our budget since the amount of income we used to be taking in has changed with the temporary loss of child support and when it is started again and caught up, a permanent decrease due to one of my daughter's graduating which of course takes her off of the child support system. I can't say enough about the importance of having an easy to manage budgeting software system whether you are using it for home or business use. If it's too complicated for you to understand? You aren't going to be able to benefit from having an organized budget.

EMI Shielding

In the department of you learn something new every day, I was not aware of the full impact that Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) or Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)could have on other electronic devices in our homes or work places until I started reading more about EMI Shielding. It was a very interesting topic and now some of the things I have experienced especially when it comes to understanding the additional costs/requirements for manufacturing when EMI shielding would be required.

Insurance for your child or grandchild...

It can be difficult to talk about the topic of child insurance, since most people don't want to think about the possibility of needing death benefits or funeral expenses for a child. Years ago when my stepson died, we learned first hand how expensive funeral costs were and it made it much harder on our family to get through the loss with the added financial pressures. While budgets can be tight on many families with young children, checking into the different types of insurance out there is something I highly recommend.

From a princess room to OMG what's next....

I should have known better than to have agreed to paint my youngest daughter's room a bright what I call pepto bismol pink, however, that is what she was confident she wanted as a room color and at the time the pink stage appeared to be one that was going to last. Now however, as she approaches junior high, the pink is no longer "cool" and the suggestion by her was she wanted black walls. Which is not going to happen...no way...no how...It makes me miss the days when all that would make her happy was a simple change in kids bedding rather than wanting a whole color scheme transition.

Cliffside Malibu for Prescription Drug Addiction

The topic of prescription drug abuse may seem like one that is not a huge issue for non-celebrities, but reality paints a very different picture. There are large numbes of regular people just like you and I who are struggling with Prescription Drug Addiction. Locally the recent news reported not long ago that over half of the teenagers that reported getting high did so with medication or other items found at their own home. This just isn't something that's happening here, and many of these teens develop these addictions which then follow them into adulthood before treatment is sought.

Cliffside Malibu offers many areas of treatment but one in particular is their Prescription Drug Addiction program. They provide very detailed information on their website about the problems related to prescription drug abuse and also offer treatment options through their residential programs. Cliffside Malibu provides numerous ways for people to contact them for more information, including being available by phone twenty four hours a day.

Retail Sales gains in May...

Some good news for retailers came out today with the Commerce Department reporting Wednesday that retail sales in the US surged by 1.4 percent which was double the increase that analysts had been expecting.

The 1.4 percent increase in May sales was the biggest one-month advance since a 3.3 percent surge in January 2006. It left sales at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $377.9 billion in May. Excluding car sales that account for 20 percent of total retail business, sales rose 1.3 percent following a 0.1 percent April rise that was originally reported as flat.

Discount Disney Tickets smart consumer shopping

While I still have plans for my dream all inclusive vacation a bit later since my brother-in-law is coming to visit, I also know we can't drive from Ohio to Florida without visiting some of the theme parks which makes Discount Disney Tickets a must. Now, I could do like we did before and not do my homework and pay the much higher "discounted" fee from the hotel or...be a smarter shopper since I am older and wiser now and use Orlando Fun Tickets. They are not only the place to go for Disney Tickets but many of the other popular attractions and best of all, they guarantee they will have the lowest prices. Looking at the many attractions they have, the hardest part will be deciding which ones to choose from...Their “Disney Magic Your Way” allows you so many options that everyone should find exactly the ticket plan they are looking for.

Quite a big deal over a pair of pants...

It really makes me wonder about the judge in question since according to this Reuters article, Judge presses $54 million suit for lost pants the case at face value seems to be a huge farce.

A judge in Washington pressed a $54 million lawsuit Tuesday against a dry cleaning shop which he said violated consumer-protection laws when it lost his pants.

Roy L. Pearson, an administrative judge for the District of Columbia, told a local court that Custom Cleaners should pay the sum because a "satisfaction guaranteed" sign deceived consumers who, like him, were dissatisfied with their experience.

Seriously, this puts a whole new meaning to the phrase "sue the pants off of someoneone".

:-)

Whale of a tale with a sad ending...

A whale that was estimated to have been at least 130 years old survived an attempt at harpooning him around 1890 but unfortunately wasn't so lucky recently as hunters killed him this time and while chopping up his body with a chain saw discovered a piece of the harpoon from the earlier attempt.

Personally, I hope that the blubber from such a geriatric whale gives them all indigestion....

Gold is more than just pretty...

There is more to Silver, Gold and other precious metals/jewels than just songs or jewelry. Since at least 560 BC some sort of gold has been used by man. While there are of course those who believe that the Bretton Woods system should still be in place, many investors still select gold or other metals as a part of their financial security plan. Companies like Monex Deposit Company (MDC) with over 30 years of experience is one of the main companies investors looking for silver or gold, available in coin or ingot form, turn to. There has been a lot of attention lately on silver because the US Government has sold most of it's prior holdings off, which while creating a depressed silver price due to the lack of availability of replenishing those silver stores, will eventually create a situation where the price of silver will rise. If you have thought of considering this type of investment yet have feared having either coins or ingots in your home, using a company like Monex Deposit takes the worry out of that aspect, they will arrange for either personal delivery to you or to an independent bank or depository.

Drug Rehab that has worked where others have failed...

One of the things about Stone Hawk that you first notice when you read about their drug detox program is that they seem to specialize in helping people who have not been able to get help through other programs. They capture what I feel is the essence of the situation with a simple statement I read on their website, Learn how to save a life, and your family.

The lives of more than just the person with the substance problem is affected, it can destroy a family because let's be honest, it hurts to watch someone you love go through this and you can't help at times feeling a whole gamut of emotions from anger to despair. For many people Stone Hawk has made the difference, and if you think they can help you or a loved one? Visit them for more information on what they can do...

Update on Steve Jobs bombshell that kind of...bombed...

It appears that quite a few people were left feeling disappointed after Steve Jobs made the "big" announcement that had many people buzzing in the world of computers. According to Wired some of the earlier anticipation over iPhone has now been squashed due to discovering some of the hinted features are only going to be possible with the Safari browser:

Some developers were less delicate.

"Using Ajax for the iPhone is bullshit," said French programmer Jacques Foucry. His colleague, web programmer Dominique Baillon, agreed. "I'm quite comfortable with web applications, but I need something that I can run locally (on the iPhone) and that will work when I'm not connected to the internet."

Baillon said Apple's solution to let web apps run in Safari was good for programmers who write web apps, but for no one else.

However the earlier news that Safari would be compatible with Windows was supposedly met with huge applause. That one I don't get, we have Safari on our Mac and I can't do as many things with Safari that I can do with Firefox...

Make good use of your child's summer...

I realize many believe that summer break should be a time of vacation but statistics show that children lose quite a bit of what they have learned over the summer if there is no remedial work done during that long summer break. It's one of the reasons many other nations have a different school year system with a year round school calendar. That's why as a parent of five children, I urge parents to check into available programs like the Summer Program that Score offers. It's a great way to help your child in any weak areas they might have experienced during the school year and to reinforce skills they did learn so when fall comes? They will be ahead of the game and ready to succeed.

Google scores low on privacy...

I realize Google runs all, and I can't say I'm really happy with them for dropping my page ranked 6 blog to a 5 when all of my numbers were up, it appears it was done because I'm doing paid posts since that is the only thing that has changed since the blog was first a 6 prior to even doing paid reviews. That said, it appears Google has even larger problems from a point of perception according to this article from Wired, Poor Privacy Grade Reflects Google's Growing Power. The reasons for this are clear from this one statement:

Simon Davies, Privacy International's director, said in an interview that the rating in part reflects Google's power and reach, which require it to meet a higher standard than others.

"One of the points we are making is that Google is the new Microsoft," Davies said. "Five years ago, Microsoft was rightly perceived as the evil empire. But Microsoft has turned the ship around somewhat, and it doesn't require much tweaking to embed privacy infrastructure into planning processes."

Davies added, however, that he believes the firestorm over Google getting the lowest mark of any company is overblown. "The most important conclusion is that privacy invasion is endemic," he said. The group has called for a July 23 privacy summit in San Francisco, where it hopes the largest internet companies will meet to create standards for online privacy.

Get your psychology degree online...

Dreamed of getting a degree in psychology? It is possible for you to get an online psychology degree from Capella University. Why select Capella University? They have been an accredited online college since 1993 and they have 16 certificate programs and 82 graduate and undergraduate specializations programs. More than 17,900 students from all 50 states and 56 countries have taken advantage of their great programs and learned from professors like Sara Orem who recently earned recognition for her co-authoring, Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process for Change.

Don't continue to put your dreams on hold, visit Capella University online and discover how they can help you take that next step.

Pleo expected to be the toy "to have"

I've survived many of the "must have toy" moments, thankfully none of mine wanted a tickle me Elmo though we did have a personal experience with Barney the talking dinosaur and Teddy Ruxpin...I don't even want to talk about all of the Furby drama we experienced...Now however CNN is announcing the next robotic toy is called Pleo and as their headline reads, Meet Pleo. He's going to crush Furby.

It looks as if this is going to be one even my 12 year old is going to want...let's just hope it's not a Furby moment again...It's sad to watch an electronic toy commit suicide due to neglect...her iDog probably can testify as to what a horrible electronic pet owner she is...

:-)

Teen Card would have come in handy...

Alas with my older four now being over 18 and my youngest not quite ready for the Teen Card I can see where it would have been a huge benefit when my older four were just a bit younger. I felt as if I was the Mom ATM on more than one occasion as well as wondering about their money management skills. I do most of my banking online and I don't like to keep cash around the house. There was more than one time where I had to trust my debit card with a teen so they could take out the needed cash and hope they a) remembered to give it back and b) did not take out more than what was given permission for.

With the Teen Card that's not an issue. Parents set up the card and can not only keep track of spending but if necessary temporarily suspend the card. It's also very easy to manage online which is a plus compared to some of the other pre-paid debit card systems out there that while they can be used for a similar purpose the monitoring aspect is not anywhere close. Having experienced the nightmare of co-signing on an account for one of mine that over drew it? The PAYjr system avoids that scenario as well. If you have teenagers, I recommend heading over and seeing if their system will work for you...

What will Steve Jobs announce?

Speculation has been rampant but later today we will discover exactly what Apple is announcing next. The announcement is scheduled to be made at 10:00 a.m. California time, so I'll update as soon as it's been released.

:-)

The pool went smoothly...

While the Intex Frame Set Pool was not quite as easy as advertised, it stated it takes 15 minutes to set up and it took us a bit longer than that - approximately 45 minutes from start to finishing to the point of only needing to add water. I do have to say it is a nice pool for the price. Target had it for $176.00 plus tax and it comes with a cover, filter, pump, ladder and pool cleaning tools.

Personally for me the water has not gotten warm enough yet for me to venture into the pool but my daughters have been enjoying it, and our dog has as well, well as long as she is not "in" the water.

Teenage and almost teenage girls still like to color...

Realizing that pre-teen and teenage girls enjoy having fun with Coloring Pages is the premise behind The Doll Place's new web offering that allows those who register for free to not only be able to color online different pictures but to upload some of their own drawings and share them with friends so that they can try to color the pictures as well.

It is a fun way for any child to spend some time on the computer. I tested it out with my 12 year old and she had a very enjoyable time. Not only did she enjoy the many different pictures to select from but she spent some time looking at what some of the other girls had done as far as sharing their completed pictures. She especially enjoyed the fantasy and the anime collections.

Given today's tech savvy teens and pre-teens, most of them would have no problem scanning and uploading their own selection of a drawing. While you can color pictures without having a membership, I can see the additional social benefit aspect of saving your pictures to be able to share with other friends as well as being able to take advantage of the uploading feature.

Jason Calacanis Starts a New Venture

Jason Calcanis, who is both loved and hated, depending on who it is, is making the headlines again and this time not his own self created ones (smile). In reading this article from Wired it covers a recent interview that was done by email...Some key parts of of interest:

WN: The focus of the internet frontier has shifted from the pipes, to search, to community, to blogs, and now video. … What's next?

Calacanis: Curation. The web and physical world is plagued with abundance -- people need help sorting through all the good and bad stuff out there. The tyranny of choice is causing major psychic pain and frustration for people.

WN: Professionally, what is the Calacanis endgame?

Calacanis: Buying the Knicks and bringing an NBA championship to New York City. I've been saying that for 10 years!

Trade Deficit drops...

As reported by Fox News today, the Commerce Department reported Friday that the gap between what America sells abroad and what it imports totaled $58.5 billion in April, a 6.2 percent decline from the March deficit.

Exports edged up 0.2 percent to a record $129.5 billion, reflecting strong sales of soybeans and other farm products, commercial aircraft and industrial machinery. Imports fell 1.9 percent to $188 billion as foreign oil shipments dropped slightly even though the average price of crude oil increased.

The overall improvement in the deficit was larger than the small decline analysts had been expecting. It provided support for those who are forecasting that the deficit will narrow this year after setting records for five consecutive years.

This is good news since for many the growing trade deficit has been a major concern.

Walking down concert memory lane...

Years ago I was a major fan of Def Leppard, and there are times I still jam to some of their music. It brings back memories for me of those times and I did see them in concert many years ago. If you are still a fan of the band, then you might be interested in knowing that the def leppard tour schedule is online and tickets at some of the events are still available.

:-)

Some more blog love for Chris the Geek...

Head on over to Great Expectations to see why I'm so happy about geek t-shirts and Chris the Geek. My choice of a t-shirt for this blog love is....drum roll please...Prisoner of the Year.

My mission? To break the code...

My Mission was to try to break this code:

SHX OGUONPR ZI RWP MAEJ ZUSBO-VCJSFPX OPKJCBLUSBP SGDURMPR

It was rather impossible at first to figure out because the code is set up in a manner that one letter there is not represented by the same letter in other parts of the code. I tried to do it without having to rely on the secret decoder but I failed. So after visiting the secret decoder I was even more confused as to how the code was created:

SPY SWEEPER IS THE MOST AWARD-WINNING ANTISPYWARE SOFTWARE

I'm beginning to think it was just a crafty trick by Spy Sweeper to get our attention and to get us to stop and focus on how tricky it can be to avoid having spyware on your computer. It can be as if it's a code you can't decipher with Spy Sweeper being the secret decoder that solves the problem. The problem in this case being spyware that bogs down or even tries to take control of your pc...If that was the plan of Spy Sweeper? It worked, because now we have focused on learning that Spy Sweeper is the most award-winning antispyware software program out there, and the most creative with their advertising too.

:-)

Today I decided I'm buying a pool...

I'm tired of being hot and our City in it's infinite wisdom has closed the public pool that was within walking distance of here. So, I started pool shopping today and found a nice one with a instant set up that has a frame rather than one of those that is inflatable. Tomorrow will be pool set up day then filling it up, the one I want holds 1700 gallons of water, that should be enough to stay cool...

:-)

Using Score to build confidence and prevent failure...

Recently here in Ohio there have been quite a few high school students who had problems passing the required graduation test. It demonstrates first hand how important it is for problem areas in our children's education to be addressed and if necessary seeking out professional Math Tutors. I already know that Math is one of my youngest daughter's weak areas and rather than wait for her to have trouble when she starts middle school and into high school, we are going to address it this summer. Thanks to companies like Score, there is no reason for your child to feel as if they are a failure and to increase their confidence in their own abilities to be able to demonstrate math knowledge.

Camino browser for Macs...

We have one Mac that I purchased a few months ago because I wanted to learn how to use a Mac and I also wanted to take advantage of the Mac's Garageband program to be able to learn to podcast (that I haven't done yet). One of the things I had problems with was getting used to the Safari browser and not being able to do the same things I was used to doing on a windows based pc. That might not be an issue anymore as the new Camino Browser developed by Mozilla sounds promising.

If I read a few more good reviews on it, I'll venture into trying it on our Mac and see if it really does make the experience easier than Safari...I'll keep you posted.

How I went from cans to paintball...

My father was an avid gun collector and a hunter. I was never into the hunting aspect so I learned how to target shoot at cans and then how to do skeet shooting, which was fun but after a while something felt lacking. Then I went paintball shooting for the first time, of course back then higher tech items like the Smart Parts Ion product line were not available but it was still a blast. Literally...While I got massacred my first time out, it made me want to not only get better but do it again. Thankfully I married someone who is into this sport as well and doesn't seem to mind if he ends up getting the receiving end of a Smart Parts Ion paintball marker from time to time as long as I don't win too often. Personally I think buying a Smart Parts Ion package ends up being a more cost effective way to paintball and one of the things I really like about Ultimate Paintball is not only their great prices but free shipping! I'm a fan of the Smart Parts Ions but they do carry other top selling paintball brands.

Boost Plus accused of giving him too much of a boost...

The story sounds funny but I'm sure it was not funny for the man it happened to. He is claiming after drinking a Boost Energy Plus drink that he ended up with an erection that would not go down to the point where surgery had to be performed.

Think I'm making this up? Visit Fox News for more of the details. Personally I'd never heard of Boost Plus creating such a reaction, I thought it was more of a protein/vitamin based drink.

Looking for a dentist in the Richmond Va area?

If you are living in or visiting the Richmond, Virgina area and are in need of dental services, Hayfield Dental Care would like you to consider becoming one of their patients. They are accepting patients and do emergency dental care, with a record of zero patient complaints on file with the Virginia Board of Dentistry, Hayfield Dental has served over 23,000 patients since 1987. In addition to teeth cleaning and restorative dental work Hayfield has a full time Orthodontic specialist and consultations are free. They want to give you something to smile about, so call them at 703-971-2220.

Prudential Financial officially ending...

Prudential Financial Inc., the second- largest U.S. life insurer, is shutting down its 420-person stock research and trading unit, one of the last parts of what ended up being a failed attempt to become a financial market player.

Prudential Equity Group, the institutional sales and trading business left behind when Prudential sold its retail brokerage to Wachovia Corp. in 2003, includes about 30 senior analysts and 80 traders in 13 cities including New York, London, and Tokyo.

This is not expected to affect their life insurance service and it's unfortunate since many had hopes that Prudential would be able to be a player in the stock market.

I believe in ghosts...

I've actually had several experiences where I have learned first hand that the supernatural does exist. While my first supernatural experience is not of course as huge as what John Cusack experienced in room 1408 in the new movie soon to be released based on a book by Stephen King, the 1408 Movie, I started out years ago not believing in the supernatural. I ignored premonitions, believing that it was just a coincidence. Similar to the theme shown in the trailer, I lost a child, my step son who was five years old at the time of his death. He had a severe grand mal seizure in his sleep and it was explained to me as it was so severe his brain short circuited.

I was the one who discovered he was dead the next morning when I went to wake him up. Even though I was told had I been in the same room with him when he died there would have been nothing I could have done, I felt responsible. I would wake up in the middle of the night and I would see him standing there at the end of the bed just looking at me. Unlike the ghosts in 1408, he was not trying to harm me, I now believe he was trying to reassure me that he was okay, but a year after we moved out of that home, not only did I never see his ghost again but the home mysteriously burned to the ground.

Since this movie is about the supernatural and it has two of my favorite actors, John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson, it goes without saying that it is one that I will definitely go to watch and then want to own once it is released on DVD. Watch the trailer for yourself and be prepared to feel that feeling that makes the hair on your arms and on the back of your neck stand up...just a little...

Which new vehicles are the most fuel efficent?

Check out todays CNN Money for 13 great fuel-efficient vehicles. I was kind of surprised because you don't normally think of a Mercedes-Benz as fuel efficient but it was the most efficient in the Luxury Sedan category. What was no surprise was which car took the most overall efficient title, the Toyota Prius. I'm not a fan of Ford vehicles but I do have to say I like the way the the Escape hybrid looks.

:-)

Calling all star gazers!

If you love looking at the stars or have thought about taking up star gazing as a hobby then there is a new item out on the market that you want to make sure you take a look at, meade my sky. OpticsPlanet.com has the Meade My Sky Personal Video Planetarium which is said to be a revolutionary way to find over 30,000 celestial objects in our universe. It's a hand held, interactive and with a point shoot and identify feature makes it easy for anyone to be able to know exactly what an object in the night sky is. Unlike the Celestron SkyScout, the Mead My Sky has a color LCD screen.

What I think is awesome about the Mead My Sky is it is designed to be very user friendly, they even have a video to show you how easy it is to use. I love the ability to create your own guided tours of the best objects that can be found where you are. Years of trying to identify planets, stars, constellations by either guesswork or trying to read maps that aren't going to be designed for your own location are no longer necessary if you have the Mead My Sky and OpticsPlanet.com offers free shipping on all orders over $29.95.

:-)

Russia using it's power when it comes to energy...

Russia used to be called a "sleeping giant" but it's obvious that is no longer true. As this recent article at CNN points out, titled,Russia bullies BP - U.S. motorist, take note points out, it could affect us here in the US if prices rise as a result of this. How could it affect us?

While a complete or even lengthy partial energy shutoff on the part of Russia isn't likely, experts say that the country's recent tactics have soured Western oil companies on investing in the country.

And that's not good for the global market, since Western oil companies are often cited for their technical expertise, which might help bring more Russian product to market at a cheaper cost.

Neff cited Exxon's recent experience in the country, where it spent $60 million exploring off Eastern Siberia only to find that it didn't get first dibs when the time came to bid on production - contrary to how most exploration contracts work.

"The producers say there's too much risk in this situation." he said. Indeed, Western companies are scrambling to find new deposits in a world fast running low on giant, new, easily accessible fields.

Today I need more energy...

Today is one of those days where I just feel drained, I cleaned and cooked and typical for me I over did it. It would be a good day for an Energy Supplement because I still have quite a bit to do yet before I can go to bed. Nor does it seem like I'm going to get a natural second wind or have a magic cleaning lady appear...No matter how much I wish for one to appear.

:-)

I love discount stores...

One of my favorite ways to shop for anything is to look for discount stores. Especially when it comes to things like discount furniture, realistically most of the time it's just last seasons furniture and it's not like that is really going to go out of style. Most furniture styles are pretty much the same the only thing that really changes is the fabric selection so why pay full price?