One of my stops each time I go online is The Consumerist. Not only can you read outrageous tales of how companies treat their customers, the things we buy shrinking (they use the picture of the Shrinker from Harvey Birdman Attorney at Law whenever they do one of those stories. Did you know that one way companies are fighting higher prices is to charge the same amount for less, usually designing the package so it isn't readily apparent?), and good deals. They had an article yesterday about a cable customer who called to cancel his service and ended up saving about $20 a month. And there was a follow up article about how to get a better deal and avoid actually being cancelled, as some companies are too happy to cut you off. I know this can sometimes work. I called DirecTV to cancel my premium channels as I wasn't actually watching them and got 3 months of Showtime free for being a good customer for so long. That's one of the key elements: if you've used a company's service for a long time and pay your bills on time you have a better chance than someone who's late paying and calls to get a deal every chance they can.

There are all sorts of deals to be found at the Buy.com sale this week. They have more items to choose from including this digital picture frame that's only $57.99 with shipping included. That's the best deal I've seen on a decent sized digital picture frame. The ones I've seen cost more and are smaller. And while we don't have flying cars yet, we do have picture frames that can change the picture in a slideshow-like presentation that's sure to attract more attention than any knick knack you would have on your table. And it would be a lot better to display pictures this way than to be stuck in the camera or put away in photo albums or in the envelope you'd get back when you used to get your film developed.
And they have other deals for sale this week. The Halloween costume sale is still going on if you haven't picked out your costume for this year yet and don't want to dress up like the Joker like everybody else. Not only that, but for DVD fans they have a sale going on for their TV series sets including season 2 of Saturday Night Live for $26 which is even cheaper than Deep Discount's price for it, and both offer free shipping so there's no hidden costs to worry about. Not only that, but they have anime sets on DVD for sale as well, so if there's any particular show you've been wanting to get it's worth a look.

If you're like me you hear about the big switch to digital TV that's going to happen in the next few months and looking to switch to one of the new TVs that's being offered. And a reminder: if you're applying for a coupon for $40 off a converter box to use for your current analog TV (and it's for receiving over-the-air signals. If you're on cable or satellite you don't need to worry about getting a converter) the coupon has an expiration date on it that needs to be used by that date. You're only allowed 2 coupons per household and they won't reissue an expired coupon. The only other option the website gives you is that it isn't illegal to have a friend or family member transfer a coupon to you. I didn't know about the expiration date and lost one of my coupons. Can anybody apply for one and send it to me?
But if you're looking for a new TV there's terms and jargon that you may think you know, or may think one type of digital TV is better than another, or wonder how it'll work with certain things like older TV shows being broadcast. This article should help clear that up.

One of the big things you have to worry about when you're planning a trip is making hotel reservations. You go to all those places that advertise the best deals on hotels and don't see that much of a difference. And there's that one site that offers a better deal than the others, but won't tell you what the hotel is until you book it. How is that a deal? And did you notice I referred to it as something you worry about?
Sure, booking a hotel at a destination you're dreaming of sounds good until you're actually spending time with your family in a cramped hotel room. As far as privacy goes you can hang out the "do not disturb" sign, but does housekeeping really notice it? It sure attracts them. For a comparable price you can see the vacation home rentals and have plenty of space and privacy. You might even save more money this way and be amazed you get so much for so little money. And they have different types of lodging for you to peruse, including cabin rentals. I know that's something I'll want to check out when fall arrives in it's full splendor.

Hey, did you know that if you don't like the big change in the Spider-man comic a while back that you're pro gay marriage? A couple of thoughts hit me reading this beyond the shock of it: 1) it made me nostalgic for the "It's magic, we don't have to explain it" explanation, and 2) if I think Secret Invasion is a confusing mess, does that mean the terrorists win and I hate America?

I've been a fan of the show Trailer Park Boys since BBC America showed the first two seasons a few years ago. I even went out and got the shows on DVD via Amazon Canada. Then the movie came out and it finally got released on DVD here in the States. I even saw it at a Redbox kiosk at the McDonald's near me. The movie is set up so it can be enjoyed independently from the TV series, so you don't have to worry about watching any of the episodes before the movie. Comedy Central is showing the movie October 4th late Saturday/early Sunday morning at 1am. That's their "Secret Stash" time slot where they can show programs and movies uncut, so there isn't any distracting beeping like BBC America had to do with the show years ago. If you haven't seen it before, and you're curious because of what I've said about here in the past, check it out. Maybe if a lot of people watch it Comedy Central will look into getting the series and showing it in the US.

I was checking my referer summary to see where everybody who reads this blog comes from. I found I had a couple of them come from a blog called Diary of a Carny. Curious, I checked it out. Looks like it's written by somebody who was a carny (he'd probably call me on it if I tried to dress it up in any other words) until the company he worked for decided to clean things up. He's saying as a result they're hiring people from South Africa to fill the positions because they can't get anyone else on the wages they pay, and the South Africans will probably stay for a year or two, resulting in them having to keep training people all the time. Another example of corporate short-sightedness. I guess the part I object to is the one where people who don't have any actual real world experience trying to say how to do things, while those who've actually experienced it can tell you that things that look good on paper don't actually work when applied. A lot of you would probably say "so what's the solution, wise guy? Keep hiring carnies?" If they were the guy writing the blog, yes. He's not a saint, but he operates under a "don't start none, won't be none" way of life, and I can respect that. Okay, I guess that's enough of playing the play at home judge everything on the internet portion of the post.
There are gaps in the postings, with most of them looking like they're written before the carnival season starts and when it ends. He wrote in one posting that he has wireless on his laptop, so I would guess that most of the time he's too busy living life to be writing about it. I am curious as to how someone came from his blog to mine. He doesn't have a link to this blog, so it's got to be someone who knows about both blogs and head his before he came here. There are sometimes, whether you're online, out shopping or whatever where you know what you're looking for and there's sometimes you're just looking. Sometimes just looking can take you to something you wouldn't think to look for and you enjoy it more as a result. I'm glad when something like that happens.

Usually when I hear about ultrasound it's in association with allowing parents to see the baby before birth. But it's more than that. Ultrasound is used to better see the baby in utero and to find out if there are any problems or complications that can be addressed, better ensuring that the baby will be born healthy. Not only that, ultrasound technology is also used in other areas of health care in similar ways to better help heal people.
Sounds like a good job, doesn't it? You can find out more about ultrasound schools, the education required as you would need some training in the medical aspects of the job as it's more than just knowing what buttons to push, location of the schools and the programs they offer, and job and salary details. You can find out everything about ultrasound all in one easy location so you can decide if it's the career for you.

Fortunately, before the Presidential address started CBS they announced that there would be some oversight over the execution of the bailout plan as well as limiting the compensation of executives of companies we're helping with the bailout. As far as the address itself, the explaination as to how we got into this mess was a bit simplistic and avoided any partisan politics. And then there was the part about the temporary restrictions imposed as part of the bailout that will be lifted when the crisis has passed. Any student of history will tell you how fast that has happened in the past.
And it's good to see that the media isn't just swallowing what they're told. You know how there's some stories that you don't think are real, especially in this day and age of The Onion-type reporting? That's what I first thought when I read Sarah Palin's response to Katie Couric's challenges to name examples of John McCain pushing for more regulation and oversight. "I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you."? Oh, I'm sorry, were we supposed to believe what you guys were saying about how you're going to bring change now that wasn't done in 26 years previous and you're only mentioning it now since you see how well the competition was doing with it? I wonder if we're going to see Tina Fey's return as Palin in a skit where she interrupts Couric's news broadcasts with "information" she's found?

Ain't It Cool News is reporting that actor Aaron Douglas (Chief Tyrol) of Battlestar Galactica may have gotten mixed up over what was revealed on the mid-season finale and may have revealed more than what TPTB wanted known at this point. Reading the post I can imagine that Universal is going to ask them to take down the post, so read it there while you can, or read on after the cut.
Seriously, things will be revealed if you click on more below...
Final warning...   more »

Sometimes we get a phone call that our caller ID gives us a phone number that we don't know who's calling. We also have an answering machine, so we figure if it's important enough they'll leave a message and we'll at least know who it is, if not what's it's about. But there are some numbers that are mysteries. For one reason or another you want to know more than just a phone number. Or there's a phone number on your bill that you have no idea whose it is, and asking everyone in the house has gotten you nowhere. You want to know a little more in case it is someone you know. Or maybe you're just curious.
In any case, with TraceNumber you can trace owner of any phone number you want. Having problems with prank phone calls and you just can't seem to catch the culprit? It's no probem finding out whodunnit now. They can look up a phone number in the United States and Canada, land line or cell phone. Not only that, their lookups are confidential. No one is notified if you look up a number. I tried it and was able to look up some basic information on some phone numbers, but there are some that require an additional fee to acquire additional information, so this isn't a service that one can use lightly. So if you need more information about a phone number getting it is only a click away.

Since you're only going to hear about things like this on blogs and the internet and not, say, the news; here's a summary of McCain's involvement in the Keating Five scandal:

And there's a secret in the bailout: they want free rein and don't want to be subject to any review or questioning. Is there really any chance of the bailout going through with this, with all the other times they've pulled this and gotten a "no tap backs" added to it? Isn't that one of the reasons why we're in this mess?
And not only is the media and everybody obsessed with more frivolous news (I hear you, Keller. But a check of Yahoo's most popular news has Obama declining McCain's call to let him hide from scruitiny like Palin postpone the debate and campaigning), they're asking Michael Douglas about the current financial crisis. One of the reporters even called him by his character's name from the movie that made them ask him about it to start with. At least he had the good sense to correct the reporter.

With tough times getting tougher, many people are looking to continue their education as a way to further themselves either career-wise or personally. One possibility is through culinary arts schools. Greg Dean of the webcomic Real Life went through culinary school, and he'd probably be the first to say that if he could do it, anybody could do it. But I'd probably point out the times he would be under pressure that would result in the comic being delayed, not to mention some of the stories in the comic he did of the experience. Hardly a walk in the park.
But one thing I've learned from reading the strip is that once completed you will feel better in acquiring a new skill that is sure to be in demand in the highly competitive world or restaurants. And the culinary arts schools website has all sorts of information on the different schools available, not to mention the culinary careers and training available so you can learn more about the field and interest you in joining it, and feel good in mastering a skill with the bonus of it being highly in demand.

Remember the other day when I mentioned that the 20th Century Fox lawsuit against Warner Bros over Watchmen may pave the way for the Batman TV series to be released on DVD? Well, The Beat is reporting it may not be as simple as that. They link to this article on the always interesting TV Shows On DVD that explains it in more detail, and clears up some misconceptions. First, that the TV show is owned by Fox and can do what they wish with it, as long as they follow the contract. The movie that was done between the first and second seasons is out on DVD (and just came out on Blu-ray) because the contract for the film had language that allowed it to be shown in venues other than a movie theatre (such as an airplane, for example) but the TV contract didn't have any such provisions because who imagined anybody watching TV shows on anything besides TV back then? They also clear up the fact that it's DC, not Warners, who would have the say on their end of any deal made on that side of the equation. As the articles says "these 'sister' companies to DC Comics have exactly as much right to tell DC what to do, as you and I have to tell our own siblings what to do (i.e., none)". This is beared out by the many postings I read by J. Michael Stracyznski years ago about Babylon 5 whenever the topic came up about utilizing one of Warner Bros' many corporate divisions to use B5 and get it more exposure. But the main point of the article is that the rights may be more complicated that between two entertainment conglomerates. For instance, the cameos on the show sometimes featuring characters from other series?
Ironically enough, both postings on this subject is way more that any actual interest I have on it.

Many people wonder what they're going to be when they grow up. Or at least when they're finished with school. I know I puzzle over that one myself from time to time. One possibility worth looking into is fashion school. You can see the different schools available that can prepare you for that field.
But some people may say that that sounds interesting, but they're not ready to look for schools yet. Some may not even be sure what kind of careers are available in fashion, or there may be some that they're not aware of. You can also find out about the different careers out there and what kind of degree is needed. You might find something that'll catch your eye.
Or maybe you're already going to fashion school, or in the field, or maybe just want to read more about the industry. There are all sorts of articles available for you to peruse to find out the latest news in fashion, the latest trends, or maybe read up on an aspect of it that you find interesting, or want to find out more about.
Whatever the case, you can find something that will interest you, or might start you on the path of an interesting career that could add something to your life.

I had to go out this morning to run a few errands. While I was out, I decided to stop in a few stores to see what I could find. One of the shops I went into was Half Price Books. Actually, I went to 2 locations. The first one didn't have anything, but the second one made up for it. I found the Denny O'Neil/Neal Adams Green Arrow/Green Lantern hardcover that usually goes for $75 for half that. Not only that, but they had the Thor Visionairies Walt Simonson that I eyeball from time to time in the past, and the Planet Hulk hardcover. I also had a coupon from the calendar to get an additional 15% off, but boy, was my wallet hurting after that. I'm going to have to see about getting some money...

There's a lot of us out there that want to get in better shape. We realize that there's no shortcuts, no magic pills that's going to get us the dream physique, there's no two ways about it: if we want to have that killer bod we're going to have to work for it. But you hear about all those exercise programs out there, between the ads, articles, and what your friends recommend you're not sure which one to choose. Not only that, but there's the time involved with those programs, plus the costs with the equipment, gym memberships, trainers, etc. Plus it can get so overwhelming, and it sounds like a lot of hard work, that people give up and then feel bad that they did follow through. With XFLOWSION you can combine the best moves from martial arts, power yoga, and dance; without spending 3 times the amount of time with each training regimen. Not only that, but it's a series of DVDs. No gym memberships, no expensive equipment to buy, and you go at your own pace. And it's all done under the supervision of Eric Paskel who has experience in shaping bodies in Hollywood, all offered to you at a fraction of the money that celebrities spend to keep their shape. Once you make the committment you'll find that it's a training program that's fun, doesn't take a lot of time, doesn't take a lot of money, and best of all you feel good that you were able to accomplish one of your goals.

You know the complaints you hear about "new and improved" when they were originally touting the old and okay version as the best thing since sliced bread? I don't know what's worse, feeling like a sucker for buying the old version, or the marketing machine that makes you want the new shiny thing they're dangling in front of you. DVD is bad about that. They want to make you "double dip" and buy the same product again (and sometimes again and again) by adding some "special features", "director's cut", or some other flash. Sometimes it's good when you know that when they first release a DVD of a movie that it's popular enough that you know that there'll be a more deluxe version with all the bells and whistles coming down the line, so you rent the first one if you have to see it on DVD and wait. Or buy it and sell it on eBay or some other way to cover most of the cost so you can get the deluxe version. And even then it doesn't work. I knew when The Lord Of The Rings movies came out on DVD that a deluxe director's cut was coming, so I could wait. But there's some movies where that hasn't happened. Quentin Tarantino, I'm talking to you. There hasn't been a release of Kill Bill Vol 1 and 2 in one big package editing both films together with all sorts of extras and stuff (I still have my Japanese DVD of Vol. 1 with the full color violence and mayhem that they haven't released in the States yet) or a package with both Grindhouse movies together with trailers from the original movie, trailers added in other countries, or other extras that I know Tarantino and Rodriguez have or could whip up real quick.
But there's a couple of releases that I'm a jonesin' for that I don't have the funds for right now. First is the rerelease of L.A. Confidential with the bonus disc of extra features. And next week is the 10th anniversary Sports Night collection coming next week, with special features not on the first release DVD that I had to get after seeing a few episodes at Doc and Tammy's house. And don't get me started on The Godfather restoration, let alone the Blu-ray release of that trilogy (well, the first two films at least), not to mention everything else coming out in that format. I have such a collection on DVD I would hope that most of it would be adequate enough for HDTV and the next generation, at least.

There's all this cool technology out there, but the problem is (especially for us older folks) that if we do use it, we use it in the old ways. I'll get to that later. The Roxio Extreme Digital Makeover wants to help change all that. This video should shine some light on the subject:

So far there's two episodes: "Wedding Day Crunch" and "A Walk In The Park". I liked "A Walk In The Park" better because it showed how easy and fun it is to free your pictures from your digital camera. Remember earlier in the post when I was talking us old folks if you can get us to use new technology we use it in the old ways? I still have all the photos I kept in my camera on the memory card. Sure, I've uploaded it to my computer, and even shared some of them over at the flickr link on the right, but there's so much potential going to waste because I'm still thinking along the lines of the old days of take the picture, get the film developed, look at the pictures, keep them in the envelope I got them in, and forget about them until I find them while cleaning house. It's so easy to fix them up in a multimedia presentation. Instead of looking at pictures like a slideshow, I can design them to fade, dissolve, add some pizazz so that if I wanted to show photos from my last trip, or Christmas, you won't necessarily run away screaming. Face it, I'm not that exciting. But anyone can zazz up their pictures so people can be interested. You can learn more by watching the videos, and they even have a contest going on where you can be featured on the show and win some prizes. A lot better than letting your pictures sit in your memory card, huh?

Remember that lawsuit that 20th Century Fox filed against Warner Bros over the movie version of Watchmen? Many people are wondering if it's a studio messing with another studio? Or trying for some money? Maybe it's a ploy to finally get the Batman TV series DVDs released. As you may know (or realize after doing a search of your favorite DVD retailer) that the Batman TV show isn't on DVD. Basically, it was a 20th Century Fox production, and Batman is owned by Warner Bros. Neither side budging.
Sometimes it takes a lawsuit to break a stalemate. Like when Neil Gaiman got the rights to Angela and Medieval Spawn from Todd McFarlane for giving up his claim on Miracleman. Okay, bad example.

Have you ever heard of legal steroids? I'm sure there's a lot of people in the bodybuilding and sports areas that are wondering if there is such a thing. But I'll tell you, if it was me, I would be doing some checking into it to make sure before I would even consider that possibility. Not only for the legal ramifications, but you only get one body in this life. I would suggest consulting with a physician as well before undertaking any kind of program.