Swiss Consider Legalizing Incest - A Horribly Insane Idea

Although The Swiss parliament has drafted a law that would allow parents to have sex with their children or siblings to have sex with each other, and despite what the lawyer for David Epstein the Columbia University professor accused of having an incestuous relationship with his adult daughter, thinks, that legalizing incest is not a bad idea.  I trust that the United States will never fall pry to something as repulsive as this, but will instead continue to know that legalizing incest is a horribly insane idea.


This is freaking insane! In what world of morality is it ever okay to have sex with your sibling let alone your own children? I agree with the conservative lawmakers who've labeled it "completely repugnant." 

As for the Columbia professor's lawyer thinking it not a bad idea, he's only saying that because,  his client, David Epstein, a Columbia University professor is having an incestuous relationship with his own daughter.   And for him to compare it to a homosexual relationship by saying: "It's OK for homosexuals to do whatever they want in their own home," as he tells ABC News. "How is this so different? We have to figure out why some behavior is tolerated and some is not."  Is about as lii as the disgusting situation itself. 

The protection for children will be lost forever, if crimes such as this continue to be legalized. 
For more on this story, go to: Newser.com 

Fried Hotdogs Without Trying

I recently discovered how to make fried hotdogs for my Grandson’s lunch without trying.  Don’t click away, you may find my method quite interesting, or at least worth making note of.

First, ingredient in this equation is an eleven-year-old Grandson who needs a quick lunch. It has to be quick and portable, because he’s engrossed in both a computer and a television program.  Therefore, he can’t be expected to tear himself away for more than 5 – 10 minutes tops, portable because he’s not going to actually physically move to the dining table to eat said lunch.

Next, take a couple of hotdogs, three in this case.  Throw them into the pot (hope you’re paying attention) with some water, turn burner on and go back to what you were doing.  In my particular situation I was multi-tasking: I threw a load of towels in the washer and more importantly, I went back to the room where I was working on two articles as well as a review and had no less than six windows open on my trusty laptop.  Did I mention, in addition to the six windows Facebook was also active, needed to import my blog’s rss feed, for one of the articles I was working on.  

If you were paying attention to the aforementioned information, you would know, I failed to mention turning on the timer to ensure I didn’t get immersed in what I was doing and forget about the hotdogs.  Well, I can assure you I did not bother to turn on the timer; I got immersed in the review I was writing, researched some information on the Internet, and periodically made notes on an article I was writing.

And that’s how I made fried hotdogs without trying.  If you still don’t get it….

By the time I smelled the stench, it was too late and I realized the hotdogs may have been left on longer than should be.  Again, if you were paying attention and clearly I was not, you would realize I only meant to boil the hotdogs, which is why I put them in a pot of water.  Instead, I fried those hotdogs to a crispy black inedible mess.  They became garbage disposal bait – the stainless steel pot that was now coated in black crud I left soaking till I’d be able to put the SOS pad to it and restore it back to its shine.

Where was the eleven-year-old Grandson, you ask?  Right out there still engrossed in both his computer and television programs.   The timer was the first thing I turned on before I even thought about turning on the burner for the replacement hotdogs I had to boil.

Deck the Halls and Decorate for Christmas While on A Budget

Millions of Americans love to celebrate Christmas. When asked, the majority of individuals respond that Christmas is one of their favorite holidays, if not their favorite. If you love to celebrate Christmas, there is a good chance that you may also love decorating your home for Christmas. Unfortunately, if you're not careful, decorating your home can become quite expensive. However, if you want to decorate for Christmas, but you, like so many others, have had to downsize due to our country's unfortunate recession, and you do not have an unlimited amount of money to do so, there are ways that you can deck the halls and decorate for Christmas while on a budget.

 

Deciding ahead of time can be a good way to save money on Christmas decorations. Unfortunately, a large number of shoppers, perhaps yourself included, have a difficult time with impulse buying. However, if you are on a limited budget, it is advisable not to give into any impulse buying urges. This is why you may want to determine ahead of time what you'd like to buy. It's possible that you're uncertain exactly what you would like to buy, which of course is fine, but it may be a good idea to concentrate on which rooms that you want to decorate for Christmas and which rooms you do not. And perhaps have a color theme in mind to help narrow down your choices, using this method, will make it easier for you to eliminate unnecessary purchases.

Once you have an idea of which type of Christmas decorations that you would like to buy, you can start your shopping; but, it is important to remember your goal of saving money. As much as you may enjoy decorating for Christmas, you do not want to spend more money on decorations than is within your budget. Keep in mind, the less money you spend on Christmas decorations, the more money you will have to put towards Christmas gifts or other festive events.

 

When shopping for Christmas decorations on a budget, perhaps one of your first stops should be to your local dollar store. While many individuals assume that the items sold in dollar stores are of poor quality, that's not always true. In fact, around Christmastime, you can get some really nice Christmas decorations for a dollar or less. Depending on the dollar store you choose to shop at, you should be able to walk away with Christmas pictures, Christmas wall hangings, Christmas tree decorations, Christmas lights, and even Christmas towels and potholders for your kitchen. When choosing a dollar store, keep in mind, not all dollar stores are created equal. For instances, Dollar Tree one of the largest dollar store franchises, has a location in Oak Park, MI on Nine Mile Rd. which is quite large, well stocked and always clean. And they have a huge selection of gift bags and Christmas decorations to choose from. On the other hand, the Dollar Tree store on Jonesboro Rd. (exact location will not be provided) in Georgia does not even compare; it's small, cramped and ridiculously under stock. So, do your due diligence. Just because you're decking your halls on a budget does not mean you should be subjected to a substandard atmosphere.

In addition to dollar stores, you may also want to check out a few discount stores as well. Discount stores, in most cases, tend to carry a wide variety of different products, including Christmas decorations.

One discount store in particular where you will be able to find a huge variety of wonderful and affordable Christmas decorations, is Big Lots stores. Inside tip: Not only does Big Lots offer some of the best bargains during the holiday season – to help you maintain your budget, but after the Christmas season they offer some super mark-downs on their Christmas decorations - anywhere from seventy-five to ninety percent off.

For the largest selection of Christmas decorations, you will want to shop early, but for the best prices, you may want to wait until it gets closer to Christmas. In fact, let me repeat this tip; the best bargains are normally found right after Christmas and the discounts can range anywhere from seventy-five to ninety percent off. Although shopping right after Christmas won't help you this year, it may very well help you get a jump on gathering some super cutesy decorations that you can use to affordably deck the halls of your home, next year.

Erykah Badu - Window Seat

One of the most interesting videos to date and a hellva song to match.

Window Seat

Just in the mood to share this... Download this mp3 from Beemp3.com

Weekend Wedding Activities – Woohoo!

It has become increasingly trendy to host a weekend gala event for couples-to-be, because a wedding is not just a celebration of their love; it is also a way to thank the special people in their life and have them participate.

As a number of families are geographically spread further apart, it is becoming more popular for couples to opt for weekend weddings. The festivities generally begin Friday evening, with the wedding being held on Saturday and a post-wedding breakfast or brunch concludes the activities on Sunday.

Rest assured planning activities for weekend-long celebrations does not have to be a nail-biting, hair-pulling difficult task, but planning the activities for the long weekend is essential. And it can actually be quite a bit of fun. First, consider everyone's needs. It's important that during the wedding weekend, planners keep in mind that the weekend itself might be expensive for some guests, particularly those who had to fly in for the occasion therefore; many of the activities should be free, or inexpensive. However, if planners choose more expensive activities to include the entire group, they should be paid for by either the bride and groom or their families and not the guests.

Of course, there are plenty of activities that don't have to be expensive, such as a scavenger hunt that incorporates the Bachelor and Bachelorette party activities. Simply draft a list of meaningful items and split the guests into two teams. Players can use digital cameras (or cell phone cameras) to photograph the crazy things on their scavenger hunt party list.  Since you are using pictures instead of collecting the items the list can be really crazy! The list could include items like, "Dancing with a Stripper" or "A member of the groom's party wearing women's underwear" or "A picture of a penny with the year of the Bride or Groom's date of birth on it." You will need to tailor the scavenger hunt list to the location and the guests who will participate, but the possibilities are endless.

Another suggested activity is to replace the formal rehearsal dinner with an informal barbecue dinner or picnic – this does not have to be catered, it's best to get family members involved for this shindig – every family has their own grill-master, and they should be used during this particular function. If you're lucky enough to be near a lake and the weather permits, consider planning the events for Saturday at the lake. Activities can include, swimming races, beach volleyball, canoe racers, and/or jet skiing.

An additional activity that's popular during weekend weddings is a competitive type sport activity, such as volleyball, flag football, baseball, softball or horseshoes. Again, add a unique twist. Offer prizes for performance (first touchdown gets a kiss from the bride or groom, first score the best man has to sing to, hug, or kiss maid of honor) or you can make-up ridiculous rules, like members of the bridal party have to wear veils while playing volleyball and/or members of the groom's party should have to wear tiaras.

You can even offer prizes for the team that wins the scavenger hunt or any of the other activities, such as gift certificates to Edible Arrangements, local sporting events, or wine baskets.

Although it might seem an obvious choice to divide the teams into groups who know or are related to the bride and teams who know or are related to the groom, think about how exciting it would be to mix it up a bit, by creating teams of friends versus family, youth versus aged, or men versus women (always a popular choice).

There are so many unique activities that the problem isn't what to do, but which of the number of activities to do. And with the large variety, there's bound to be one that fits into your budget and theme.

Bath-Time Blitz for Some - Trifling Maneuver for Others

During my childhood I recall that my brother spent more time pretending to take a bath than just actually taking a bath. In the time it took him to fake taking a bath he could have just taken a bath.

Seriously, this fool had the nerve to run the water, put the soap and towel into the water, and splash his hand in the water while sitting on the side of the tub - to give the illusion that he was bathing. Damn! That's way too much effort spent not to do something. It would have been much easier to just get his happy behind in the tub and take a freaking bath.
 
You may wonder if he grew out of this lazy trifling habit. Well, it took a while and quite a few butt whippings, but he finally realized good hygiene was important - or maybe he grew tired of our mother sitting in the bathroom as he bathe.


 

There’s Not An App for That or Maybe Just Not One for You

There's no question Apple's App Store has a huge lead over its competitors- Apple continues to release new apps to make handheld gizmos more attractive and awesome – boasting more than 50,000 Apps. However, Google Android and Blackberry Apps are also named in this post for being among the privileged. Unlike the aforementioned, Apps are not designed for use on other cell phones and the owners of said devices are feed up. At least this Samsung owner is.

DriveSafe.ly^™ is a mobile application that reads text (SMS) messages and emails aloud in real time and automatically responds without drivers touching the mobile phone. DriveSafe.ly is claiming to be the solution to texting while driving. This is an app supporting safety and just the type of app that should be available to every cell phone capable of using apps – not just the precious iPhone, Android, & Blackberry.

I've been a loyal AAA member since the 80s, but can I get the free app they offer, no – because I don't have an iPhone, Android, or Blackberry.

Shoot! I pay a nice piece of change to AT&T each and every month for the privilege of using my cell phone which happens to have 3 main menu screens that contain apps. Including AT&T GPS and Navigator, and Social Net which provides access to FB, Twitter, MySpace in a format similar but not, to TweetDeck.

Even Directv has an app so that you can use their DVR scheduler to record programs on your DVR, but if you don't have an iPhone or what they call a Smart Phone (implying my phone is dumb?), you're S.O.L on this feature as well. Why can't you simply use your phone's web browser to get to the scheduler? Why must there be an app used, and since you have to use an app, why is there no app for other phones?

There's an app for just about everything:

Movies, music, and naturally there are some game applications that you can install on your iPhone, so you won't get bored while traveling. Another great iPhone application is called Showtime, this particular application is for movie lovers that want to research upcoming movies in the nearest theaters.

WeatherBug , is an app that will give you the current weather in the state you are currently in or even the whole country, it can also provide a map that shows the storm track. I have My-cast weather on my phone of course there's an extra monthly fee for its use. Whatever you want to spend money on, the iWant application will be able to find it for you – whether it is food, lodging, gas, banks, even coffee. My phone has "where" also available for an additional monthly fee.

If you travel a lot, then you will definitely love one of the iPhone applications that will be able to update you with traffic. With this, you will be able to avoid heavy traffic in cities all over the United States. Another great application for international travelers is the language translator. With this great application, you will find it easier to communicate with other people where English is not their primary language.

There's even a Mad Men cocktail culture app, so that you'll be able to mix drinks like the characters on the AMC series Mad Men – how clever is that.

These are just examples of the thousands of applications that you can download and use with your iPhone. Whatever you want, you can be sure that you will find the right applications that you need – But where are my special apps?

Why can't the rest of us, cell carrying gadget lovers be supplied with all the cool apps available for iPhone & Android? I know I know I can just get one of the Smartphones and become a member of the cool app club, but why should I and others like me have to buy yet another phone – extending our contracts, just so we can be a part of the elite app club?

Breaking news, as of 9.28.10 there is now a StumbleUpon app for, yes, the damn iPhone, iPad, and Android. Oh, did I forget to mention that the app is free.

Lastly, in the world of mobile phone technology and multimedia gadgetry, the iPhone (and it's Android competitors) is considered to be one of the most amazing devices ever made. But it does put me in mind of when windows replaced DOS – just point and click, because users were too lazy to write the commands. So what do cell phone apps say about its savvy gizmo users that must have them – well, how else are we going to lose the few active brain cells we have left? But, if you want a mobile device that will be able to provide you with all the applications you need to make your life a bit easier; a Smartphone may be the device for you. Apple iPhone Applications Will Simply Amaze You – I think my phone has amazing features too, but I want it to be even more amazing – I want it to be a smart phone. Apparently I have no choice but to upgrade to the (Smartphone) Samsung Captivate next week.




 

Buzz Words/Phases That Are Annoying - or Crap I Don't Care About

There are a number of things that I've pondered during my lifetime - as I'm sure you have as well, but I'm not really certain if I even give a damn about the answers - what about you?  One of my main annoyances is, there are few too many buzz words or phrases that seem to catch on way too quickly, without explanation or necessity, at least from my point of view.  I've listed just a few you may not be too fond of as well.


Phases and "Buzz" Words That Are Annoying To More People Than You Think

What the Sam-hill is up with this "Tea Party" crap? Is this "Tea Party" by invitation only, is the attire former or casual wear? Is it restricted to a certain group and are gloves and/or 'hoods' optional? Perhaps I should consult The Huffington Post or The Washington Post for clarification? Better yet, Fox News & Sarah Palin considering they seem to be the experts on this. Here are some Tea Party Pics you may find annoying as well.

"A community committed to standing together, shoulder to shoulder, to protect our country and the Constitution upon which we were founded!"

What a load of crap that is, it's just another organized group of haters wanting to get "their" way, by any means necessary.

 

"We must stay the course", why because you say so?  And must we stay the course, even if everyone knows you're heading in the wrong direction?

Who besides me - and I know I can't be alone - especially with the number of lay-offs, can't stand the one that every HR Representative has tattooed in their mental Rolodex, yes the dreaded, "Where do you see yourself in five years?"  First thought is, "Tomorrow isn't promised, yet you want me to give you a 5-year forecast, seriously?"  Perhaps the appropriate response should be, "Five years ago, did you see yourself hiring me?"

Finally, one of my all time annoying favorites is "Think outside the Box", that bitch of a phase urks me beyond belief. First of all, who's stupid enough to get themselves into a box, let along need someone else to direct them to "think" once outside of it. Shouldn't they have thought prior to getting into the box? I'm just saying.

Here's a newer buzz word that I do like and would like to use here…Deuces!
Simply put, it means, Bye.


              (Thanks Chris Brown for this one) 




 

Shanghai Girls – An Interesting Head Shaking Read

Our book club, Circle of Sistahs had the privilege of reading Shanghai Girls, by Lisa See

My goodness gracious, if you haven't read this book, please do. This is such an interesting and head shaking read. Seriously, as you read about May and Pearl, two sisters living in Shanghai in the mid-1930s, who are beautiful, sophisticated, and well-educated - you will get caught up, you will get involved, and most of all, you will be moved.

The girls are living a nontraditional and carefree life of privilege, sadly they are unaware their family is on the verge of bankruptcy, until the day their father tells them that he has gambled away their wealth and that in order to repay his debts he must sell the girls as wives to suitors who have traveled from California to find Chinese brides. But when the sisters leave China and arrive at Angel's Island (the Ellis Island of the West)--where they are detained, interrogated, and humiliated for months--they feel the harsh reality of leaving home. And when May discovers she's pregnant the situation becomes even more desperate. The sisters make a pact that no one can ever know.

As Japanese bombs fall on their beloved city, Pearl and May set out on the journey of a lifetime, one that will take them through the Chinese countryside, in and out of the clutch of brutal soldiers, and across the Pacific to the shores of America. In Los Angeles they begin a fresh chapter, trying to find love with the strangers they have married, brushing against the seduction of Hollywood, and striving to embrace American life even as they fight against discrimination, brave Communist witch hunts, and find themselves hemmed in by Chinatown's old ways and rules.

I really would like to see this book adapted into a movie - as long as it stays true to the storyline as written by Lisa See. Perhaps they can take a page from another book focusing on Women of Asian descent, "The Joy Luck Club" (1989) is a best-selling novel written by Amy Tan. It focuses on four Chinese American immigrant families in San Francisco, California who start a club known as "the Joy Luck Club," playing the Chinese game of mahjong for money while feasting on a variety of foods. In 1993, the novel was adapted into a feature film directed by Wayne Wang and starring Ming-Na, Lauren Tom, The screenplay was written by the author Amy Tan along with Ronald Bass. They had the good sense to have the author write the screenplay and that may have been the reason the movie manage to mirror the book so well. And I see no reason why they cannot do the same with Shanghai Girls.

Did I say, this is a must read for any book club and/or reader? If I didn't say it, consider it said. Read, Shanghai Girls by Lisa See.

Simple Techniques to Help You Lose 10 Pounds in One Week

Losing extra pounds gradually along with routine exercise is the healthiest way to keep in shape. Instead of wanting to shave off those extra pounds in a day or two, which can be a very daunting endeavor, a pound or two each day is a healthier alternative. There are several ways to lose 10 pounds in one week but only a handful of them work. More so, some of those diets even subtly suggest going to extremes like not eating anything at all, and not eating anything at all is an unhealthy not to mention unsafe alternative.

If you are unsure of what kind of diet regimen you should undertake to help you lose weight, here is a one-week meal plan you can try. Just follow these few simple steps and see yourself slimmer in a span of one week. For some of us, it's not always about losing weight, but this is also a pretty good method to becoming more tone.

Day One

On the first day of the diet, it is important to condition the body. You can do this by taking a detox
mixture. Not only will this help the body lose weight faster but cleanse it as well. Start the day by mixing a cup of lemon juice, slices of ginger and honey with one cup of water.

It is helpful to prepare a mixture of this detox drink that can last the whole day. This way whenever you are hungry, all you have to do is to drink a cup of the detox mixture.

Day Two

It is important to limit the amount of food you eat to help your body lose weight fast. However, don't forget to eat healthy and incorporate lots of fruits and vegetables to your meals. You can also eat meat but remember to chose lean ones or opt for white meat like chicken or fish instead.

Day Three

Once you got used to your new diet, start adding two pieces of apples and a cup of black beans to your meals. You can also substitute the beans for the meats. This can jumpstart your fiber intake, which in turn helps for healthy weight loss.

Day Four

During the fourth day of the diet, start eating a heavy breakfast mostly consisting of grains and cereals. Again, fiber is very important because it really does wonders for the digestive system. As for your dinner, remember to eat the meal before seven o'clock. Eating after seven in the evening or hours before sleep can restrict the body from properly digesting your meal.

Day Five

It is important to realize just how many calories you consume during the previous three days especially now that you have established a healthy diet. Once you are aware of this, try to scatter your meals all throughout the day. Eating five to six small meals is a great way to help you lose weight.

Day Six

During this time, you must be able to limit your sugar and fat intake. If not, try to limit your consumption further. There are other healthier alternatives for these kinds of foods. For instance, instead of eating ice cream for dessert, eat yogurt. They are healthier and provide the body with helpful and healthy bacteria.

Day Seven

Eat fresh fruits instead of packaged juices. Another healthier alternative is to drink freshly squeezed juices without additives and flavorings. You can even stop drinking juice altogether and rather opt for a healthier green tea. Personally, I prefer the taste of juice.

This kind of diet can be prolonged if you want to continuously lose weight. Once you lose 10 pounds in one week, remember that maintaining this type of healthy diet can prevent you from gaining weight.

EAT PRAY LOVE - An Onscreen Travel Blog

Well, as much as I enjoy a Julie Roberts movie on occasion, dull is what I find myself saying about her most recent movie in which she plays the main character, Liz Gilbert in ' Eat Pray Love'  one of those 'find yourself' movies.  This movie which is suppose to be about a woman, Liz Gilbert, that has lost her passion for life; was more or less an onscreen travel blog - without action or excitement. 

Mini-Synopsis: Liz leaves everything behind, including her (newly) ex-husband, Stephen (Billy Crudup) and her even newer wanna-be-actor boyfriend, David (James Franco) to travel for an entire year.  First, she goes to Italy for a few months and rediscovers the joy of eating - I found the Italy experience to be one of the best, if not the only interesting of her experiences in the movie.  The second country she goes to is India.  In India she supposedly finds her inner peace through prayer and meditation - enough said.  The final destination is Bali, where she hopes to find balance - and the way she finds it, you guessed it, she falls in love with a wonderful man that makes her feel alive again.  Well, well, well, how else could there be a predictable neat and tidy happy ending without the protagonist falling in love.

Oh, one of the most memorable scenes (for me) in the movie, was when Liz and her buddy (during her India experience), Richard (Richard Jenkins) from Texas who referred to her as 'groceries' because of her appetite, was leaving for the airport.  As Liz and Richard were walking, the extras in the background were looking at Liz as if she were Julie Roberts, that was too freaking funny.  Of course in the next shot, the movie editor caught the flaw - too late. 

I'm glad I used my free-pass to see this chick-flick and I only did so because my copy of the book (which I needed to read for a book club meeting) hadn't come in yet.  What I did truly goes against my rules - never see a movie before reading the book it was adapted from; and I don't know how I could ever force myself to read the book now, considering what a snooze I found the movie to be - so I won't, because I just can't.

QuiBids or Quick Scam? You Be The Judge

I stumbled upon a site I didn’t know existed or simply had ignored, called QuiBids.com it proclaims itself to be:

“a fun and exciting, fast-paced auction website. On QuiBids, you can win all sorts of popular products at amazing low prices,”

That sounds great! exciting! and fun! doesn’t it?  Well that’s what I thought as well.  What I didn’t count on, but should have known was that…

“but you must purchase bids before you can win. “

And in order to do that you must,

“choose the Bid Pack you want and fill out your payment information on the right. “  Have no fear, because “QuiBids accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express.”

In the help section it indicates that QuiBids offers 45, 75, 300, 600 and 800 bids.  Here are 3 bids packs that I found on the site:

Click to learn How does QuiBids work?

Above is a screen capture of a bid in progress for a Nikon D90 12.3 MP DSLR camera and lens.

Keep in mind, lilylee had this bid won with only 1 second left on the clock, but wouldn’t you know it, up pops a bid from willID3 which adds another $.01¢ to the price, which isn’t bad, but if lilylee had it won at less than $10.00 why is the bid still going at $22.33?  Because along with the additional $.01¢ for each bid, a timer is reset with another 0:20 seconds yes, that’s right every time someone else bids another 0:20 seconds is added to the timer.  Ummmm makes you wonder. 

Well, the bidding for the above item is closed and the winner is, Jennyleigh who placed 7 bids @ .60¢ = $4.20 with a final price of only $46.13 – that’s a heck of a bargain on a camera retailing at more than a thousand dollars.  I wish I could have made that deal, but I don’t think I’m ready to take that plunge yet – I need to do more research.  In the meantime, I’ve come across a few reviews that I found interesting, and you may too.

Here’s what a few reviewers had to say regarding QuiBids and how it works:

• “SCAM SCAM SCAM (mathematical screw-you to the buyers). AVOID!
  It costs $.60 to place a bid, so you think you are getting something cheap but end up spending $30-$40 on just bids and still end up being outbid. You can only bid in small increments (1 to 5 cents). The site is a scam for the bidders and a cash cow for the operators. …SCAM SCAM SCAM…How do you even know that you are being outbid by real people? It could be robot account owned by the website that outbids everyone last second in order to increase the number of bids and the website's total profit…So my advice for this site is WALK AWAY. read entire review”

• Penny Auctions my personal opinion is don’t get involved with them unless you have at least 75% of the retail price of the product you are seeking to purchase.  Another thing is before you get into a website like Quibids.com make sure you READ the terms and conditions and also understand what you are getting yourself into….read more

• QuiBids & Swoopo, two names I found doing the same thing. It’s genius. Each bid cost 60 cents but each bid only increments the price by a couple cents or maybe a nickle … so think about it. You buy a block of bids, say the minimum of 40, which cost you $24.00. You bid on an item and that bid cost you 60 cents but the item amount only increased a nickel. So if you are bidding on an item that is at $4.00 and it started at zero … there have already been 80 bids placed if each bid increments a nickel. At $4, they have already made $24. Say the item finally sells for $100. At 5 cent bid increments, it took 2000 bids to reach $100 and at 60 cents per bid they just made $1200 on a $100 sale. If the increments are only 2 cents per bid, they made $3000 on a $100 sale. If you won, you pay the winning amount plus all the amount you spent on the bids, plus shipping, so you just spent $124 + shipping.

I don’t know, after watching the bidding on the Nikon D90 – a camera I’d really like to have and to be able to get it for only $43.13,  that would be wonderful!  But the length of time it took for the experienced bidders to close this deal and to see it go to someone who entered the bidding long after the original bidder, makes me wonder if I would stand a chance on QuiBids.com. 

Final thought, at an auction if someone out bids you, you DON’T still have to pay your offered bid; that’s not the case with QuiBids, even if you’re out bid, you’re going to have to pay the money you’ve offered to bid.   The site may appear to offer unbelievably great deals, and it does – at a cost.   Just remember to READ all the terms and conditions, but also be prepared to pay sums of money for something you still may not even get.

 

Mad Men: Public Relations Vs. The Dangerously Dapper Don

What was Don thinking when he eluded a reporter’s  “Who is Don Draper?” – question, I’m guessing, he still does not like talking about himself.  Perhaps just this once, he should have.  During the premier episode of the fourth season for AMC’s “Mad Men”, Don Draper’s aloofness comes close to costing his newly formed company some business, business they can’t afford to lose.   To top it off, The partners are informed by Pete that his buddy, Ho-Ho is pulling the Jai Alai account because Don didn’t mention them in the interview.  And his partners aren’t too happy.  Don is unimpressed.

One of many interesting highlights of the new episode was the  Jantzen swimwear execs that Pete snagged into a meeting as potential clients. 

Although Don presented the Jantzen execs with a great layout showing a black bar that covered the model's breasts along with a catchy slogan, "So well built, we can't show you the second floor".  The execs objected, insisting they want to remain a wholesome company and their two-piece swimsuits should be presented as such.  Don gets fed up with prudish restrictions.  He snaps, “You’re too scared of the skin your two-piece was designed to show off.”  He stalks out; only to return and kick them out of the office, literally.  Priceless.

Don wasn’t the only one  causing mayhem  in Sunday’s episode…

After Pete loses the Sugarberry Ham account – Peggy comes up with the idea to hire actresses to fight over the ham at a grocery store.   They neglect to consult with Don.  Who later has to provide Peggy with bail and hush money for the women.

During Thanksgiving dinner at Henry’s mother’s house.  It’s clear that the writers are continuing to develop Sally’s defiant and strong-willed behavior from last season.  Right at the dining table with all guests present, she spits out the sweet potatoes that her mother crammed into her mouth after she clearly refused to eat them - perhaps she should have been named Don Jr.  

Henry’s mother pulled no punches when later letting Henry know she does not care for his new wife.  Telling him, not only did she think Betty was silly and beneath him, but that he could have gotten what he wanted from Betty without marrying her.  Doubt if she’s campaigning for mother-in-law of the year.

Betty, Henry and the kids are still living in the Ossining home past the date stipulated in the divorce settlement.   And to throw salt into his already impatient wounds,  Henry and Betty kept Don waiting the evening following Thanksgiving.  Betty is so openly inconsiderate and flip about it, that Don requests that they move out or start paying rent. "It's temporary," says Henry.  "Trust me, everybody thinks this is temporary," Don snaps.  Yet exits mannerly.

Betty is steamed, but Henry thinks they should move, and points out to Betty that she hasn’t even been looking.  Of course, Betty claims she wants to spare the kids further upheaval.  Perhaps its because she’s being  spiteful toward Don, not to mention attempting to play both ends against the middle,  for the attention she so hungrily curves.

The episode concludes with Dapper Don Draper meeting with a Wall Street Journal reporter.  And with charm and finest abandoning all modesty, Don tells the reporter.  "Last year, our agency was being swallowed whole," The reporter is on the edge of his seat intrigue while trying to capture every word.  Don lifts his glass & says. "I could die of boredom or holster up my guns.  So I walked into Lane Pryce's office and I said, 'Fire us.' Within a year, we'd taken over two floors of the Time-Life Building."

And that’s how MM starts its fourth season – so worth the wait.

Enlightening Dramatic Wonderful Read

Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

This novel is a MUST read for everyone.  The author reveals the painful pleasures that some slaves endure, through some of the most well-developed and memorable characters depicted in print.  This isn't a tired old story of slavery, anything but.  This story is about families, friendships, love and so much more.  It tells of the advantages/disadvantages and relationships the Wenches have and had with their masters - it tells of an idyllic resort and the summers spent there. This story enlightens the readers to a whole new world.   The author, Dolen Perkins-Valdez has mastered story-telling with this, her debut novel.
I am looking forward to more of the same from her.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Writing Articles as an Affordable Internet Marketing Method

From Overture, a keyword suggestion tool, you will see the millions of searches done to a certain keyword. When these keywords are typed on search boxes of search engines, indexed websites containing articles with those keywords will be displayed. And this is what leads traffic to websites with keyword-rich articles. Yes, the magic word is articles.

Content is king. You can say that again. That is why writing articles is one of the most utilized Internet marketing media today.  Internet surfers just can't get enough of information on various fields. Providing information through these articles is a surefire way to drive hot traffic to your web site.

Why is this so? Here are the benefits that writing articles can give your Internet business.

1. It's absolutely free.

Too good to be true? Not.  Okay, you have to pay for your Internet Service Provider. That's it.  All you need is your thoughts, your computer, and your hands.  If you have those, nothing will stop you from typing words that will make you complete that article for your website.  Which aspect of that process did you really shell out any cent?  Perhaps later when your electric bills come.

2. Your website will be noticed in a short period of time.

Submit that article of yours to article directories that get the most web traffic and in no time your web site will be crawled. That is if you don't forget including your resource box or byline.

3. Obtain back links automatically.

When you submit your articles to directories, surely, other websites will make use of your article too.  With the copyright terms of your articles, the URL of your website will still be in tact and will subsequently direct more traffic to your website.

4. Improve your reputation.

As an Internet marketer, if you plainly display your products on your website, you will not gain much conversion rate.  Conversion is when your traffic converts to sales.  You have to show that you are knowledgeable in your field.  And what better way to show that than by writing articles that will allow you some bragging rights, right?

Just make your creative juices flow and jot down or key in those ideas quickly to jumpstart your article writing momentum.  With those benefits listed above, a writer's block is the last problem you will ever be able to surmount.

The Bounty Hunter – rent it if you need to get some sleep.

Geez, what was I thinking  I can not tell you how much I truly regret wasting my $1.07 at Redbox on this so-called “action-romance.” movie.   The Bounty Hunter, really?.…. Let’s put aside my opinion of Jennifer Aniston & her limited-talent as an actress (beyond television). What Aniston has had going for her is the media’s constant reference to her connection to Brad Pitt and being a blonde, which for some reason that I still can not fathom Hollywood seems to think solidifies one as star quality – perhaps all of Hollywood should dye their hair blonde and be done. 

That said,  Unfortunately, any talent Aniston supposedly has was not mustered into this performance.  Instead, as usual and for some inexplicable reason, there was more focus on her looks and body in this supposed “action-romance.”  

As there are no surprises in this, slow paced “action” flick, I won’t spoil it (any more than I already have) for those who still may actually want to rent it.  Butler plays Milo Boyd, an ex-cop, now bounty hunter who’s thrilled from his head to his toes when an old friend drops an assignment in his lap that calls for bringing Nicole Hurley (Aniston), his ex-wife who is a reporter for the New York Daily News, in for skipping bail. 

Despite the rumors of Aniston and Butler being an off-screen item during filming,  this pair shared absolutely no sparks what-so-ever on the screen; it was as if one found out the other had something they didn’t wish to catch.  On-Screen, Milo and Nicole seemed to despise each other so much that it was hard to even imagine why these two characters would have ever been married in the first place.  Which truly made it difficult to root for them to get back together — which is usually the central theme of movies of this sort.  However, I must admit, I was rooting for the end to be quick and painless as possible.  Alas, it was not – it dragged on at a very slow pace.

He captures her, she escapes.  He finds her, he loses her.  She needs his help, he needs her help, blah, blah, blah, you know the routine. 

Oh, the twist?  if you can call it that, is Nicole (Aniston) needs to get away from her bounty hunter – ex so that she can follow up on a story lead,  surrounding the mystery circumstances of a suicide that was something more menacing than a suicide; and of course, only a cracker-jack reporter such as Nicole along with her boarder-line stalker co-worker, can solve it. 

Recommendation, rent this when all else fails.  Or you need to get some sleep.

Making Money with Articles: Easy to Read Articles

 

When writing articles, make sure to keep your readers in mind. Studies have shown that most Internet readers tend to scan a page to find the information they are looking for, rather than reading the entire page.  This means having good titles, a lot of subtitles, and making use of bullet points to help your readers easily scan your page.  Readers prefer a site that is easy to use and will be more willing to come back to your site time and time again.  The more that your readers return, the more opportunities you will have to get them to click on each one of your affiliate links.  Failing to write your articles in this manner, or to have them written this way, could turn your site visitors away before they even have a chance to see what you have to say or to learn what your affiliate links are all about.  Keeping your articles organized as recommended will keep your visitors returning and enable your site to continue making money for you.

Making Money with Articles: Placing Banner Advertisements On Your Website

 

Placing banner advertisements on your website can increase your monthly revenue greatly.  This option is better than being an affiliate for several companies because you will get one monthly fee no matter how many of your visitors go to the website or make a purchase.  The main thing is for you to create an informative website filled with useful articles, so that you can generate a high amount of returning visitors.  As your site rises on search engine rankings, the blank space on your site will begin to look more and more appealing to advertisers.  Anyone can be an affiliate, but to have a banner placed in a good spot on a high-ranking website will bring in the most revenue for a company. Once you have established yourself as a site that can be profitable for them, you can rent out different spaces on your site for advertisers to place banner ads.  Each month you will be paid the same fee, no matter how much they do or do not make off of you.

Mothers Are To Be Appreciated And Celebrated Without Wallets Being Emptied.

A true indication that the upcoming Mother’s Day holiday is imminent, is evident through daily reminders from the many sidewalk vendors selling real and fake flowers, stuffed animals, posters inscribed with overly sentimental poems, and all types of baubles along with an array of assorted tacky cheap trinkets; all which serve as a reminder that the pending day is nearing.  

Question is,  how many people are actually prepared for one of the biggest and most widely celebrated days of the year,  a day designated to show gratitude for the  most important woman in an individual's life, the women who bore them - their mother. In fact the occasion calls for indulging all women who have loved and cared for you like a mother,  including your grandmother, mother-in-law, aunt, and sister.   Ready or not,  Mother’s Day May 9, 2010 is fast approaching. 

Rather you’re planning to cruise to an exotic resort, take a weekend trip to Virginia Beach, spend the day at a spa,  take in a movie, have dinner at the finest restaurant, or just Bar-B-Queuing in the backyard;  rest assured, regardless of your plans for Mothers Day, they can be enhanced — thanks largely to www.1800Flowers.com offering  an assortment of perfect gifts to bring a satisfaction of utopia  to the special mother in your life.   Truth be told most Mothers aren’t expecting elaborate expensive over-the-top extravaganzas;  their enthusiasm stems from the anticipation of time spent with family and friends; but should a spectacular mothers day celebration or recognition come their way, they’re all the grateful for it.   Still not certain if the day will be memorable for the mom in your life?…

Well,  wonderful dear loving offspring, you’re in luck because  it doesn’t matter if you chose to celebrate at home, or away … The day will be memorable as long as you spend time with your mother.   Remember, if you want to put an additional smile on Mom’s face and enhance her day, www.1800Flowers.com, has a great selection of deals that are sure to please.   And for your convenience you can pre-order your Mothers Day flowers online - for Mom this May 9th!

Death at a Funeral Delightfully Generates Laughter

Surprisingly, Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence were relatively the straight-men in this 2010 adaptation of the 2007 British film of the same name.  So don’t look to them to bring their usual stand-up brand of humor to this film, instead look to these two comic giants to graciously tip their comedian hats to an ensemble cast that mesh extremely well together; not to mention,  Director Neil LaBute smoothly orchestrates the flow of screwball action. 

This adaptation is almost a scene-by-scene remake of a 2007 British movie with the same title, and the mysterious guest Frank is played by the same actor, Peter Dinklage , and he's even funnier this time around.  

What was meant to be a respectful solemn service quickly turns into a fiasco,  when dysfunctional kinfolks reunite to mourn the death of Aaron (Rock) and Ryan (Martin Lawrence) beloved father.  While mourners gather at the family home, the descendant’s sons find out that their father had been living on the down-low, and to add insult to injury, their father’s 4-foot tall gay lover shows up, expecting them to pay him generously to keep silent about the affair the sons have a hard time believing ever occurred.

One of the back-stories that makes this comedy stand-out stems from Cousin Elaine (Zoe Saldana) not knowing that a bottle labeled "Valium" contained a next generation hallucinogen concocted by her brother (Columbus Short) when she gives one of the pills to her boyfriend, Oscar (James Marsden).  Marsden takes an old gag of his character, Oscar accidentally freaked out on drugs to bizarre heights, and has the audience doubled over in their seats with laughter.

The widow, Loretta Devine comedic timing is flawless as she seems to acquaint her husband’s death with the absence of a grandchild, a child Aaron’s wife, Michelle (Regina Hall) is so desperate to have, and attempts to get her husband to fertilize her during the midst of absolute chaos.   And as for Danny Glover he is over the top as crabby Uncle Russell, who could easily make a saint want to push him down a flight of stairs, wheel chair and all.   There is so much more to say about this film but time and space do not permit,  just know that Death at a Funeral is delightfully amazing and generates belly-roll laughter.

Glorious by Bernice McFadden... A Review AND GIVEAWAY!

 GUESS WHAT?! Author, Bernice McFadden offered to giveaway 2 autographed copies of her new book Glorious to 2 lucky Chick with Books readers! Here's How to Enter...

To Enter this giveaway...

*For one entry leave a comment on Chicks with Books website

with your email address!

*Get an extra entry for following my blog! Just leave a comment letting Chicks with Books know you're a follower! ( Not a follower yet? No problem, sign up by clicking on the 'followers" button on the sidebar to the left! Just let her know you became a new follower!)

*Blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave me the link.

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only (No PO boxes). The books will be shipped to the winners directly from the publisher. Contest ends 11:59pm EST on May 1st. I will randomly pick the winners the next day and email them! (please check your email.. winner must reply to Chicks with Books within 3 days! Thanks!) Good Luck

 

Don't miss out on this GREAT opportunity to receive an autograph copy of the latest novel by one of the world's most incredible gifted Authors. 

*P.S. This Book is Kindle Ready!

Why Did I Get Married Too, Is Worth Seeing Too

Although Tyler Perry's latest couple's retreat theory adaptation was not screened for critics, who knows why the heck not, perhaps because his movies are critic-proof; but regardless of critics and certain audience members not giving this movie the chance it deserves along side the others, it is an entertaining positive portrait of upper-middle-class life, and to top that off, despite critics and nay-sayers, it still earned over $30.1M at the box office during its opening weekend.

Tyler Perry has ascended to the status of media mogul on the strength of his combination of Christian morality, slapstick comedy, and soap-operatic melodrama. In 2005, his play DIARY OF A MAD BLACK...Tyler Perry displays his strength as a media mogul while using a combination of comedy and Christian morality, in this sequel to his 2007 “Why Did I Get Married” Perry continues to provide his audience with positive portrayals of (African-American) characters and family-friendly-subject matter, this film can actually appeal to a broad audience if given a chance beyond the color structure, because the subject matter is universal, and features an engaging cast.

The synopsis of the movie is that, four Atlanta couples who have been friends since college take their (second) annual one-week therapeutic retreat getaway, this time to the Bahamas, to evaluate their marriages and improve their relationships. Terry (Tyler Perry) and Dianne (Sharon Leal) are blissfully happy – but are they really, with two little kids at home. Angela (Tasha Smith) and Marcus (Michael Jai White) fight constantly, probably because she suspects that he's a serial cheater and she's clearly a belligerent lush – but is there something that lays beneath the surface that isn’t known to the other or both. Patricia (Janet Jackson), the bestselling self-help author, and her husband, Gavin (Malik Yoba), appear to be happy but are obviously concealing something, other than the fact that they don’t have the picturesque marriage she portrays they neither have nor the one he claims he wants them to have. And Sheila (Jill Scott) is there with her new husband, Troy (Lamman Rucker), a decent man who's a welcome replacement for her ex loathsome Mike (Richard T. Jones), but Troy appears to be concealing a secret he doesn’t want his spouse to share with the others. And speaking of the ex, Mike, he has the nerve to show up unexpectedly and unwelcomed. But the real melodrama begins when the couples get back to Atlanta, as Mike has an even more shocking and more disturbing secret to share with Sheila and the others. Which almost pales in comparison to the dramatic conclusion of events surrounding the other couple(s), including and especially… Ooops! lets not give this away to those who’ve not had the opportunity to see this entertaining movie.

The movie is enjoyable, it was not as predictable as part 1 or as so many other sequels and movies are, there are indeed some twist and turns not anticipated in this one. Although audiences will doubled over with laughter, they will indeed appreciate the dramatic intensity from the characters & storyline as well.

Camilla's Roses

Camilla's Roses by Bernice L. McFadden

I don't know how I missed this particular book in 2004, because I thought I had read all of Bernice McFadden's novels. Needless to say, I checked it out of the library and I'm currently reading it now, and I must admit, I am intrigued as to what will become of the remaining characters, as I've already witnessed the destruction of a mentally challenged woman's beauty inside & out, following a terrible accident that claim the lives of her husband and unborn child... Oops, I don't want to spoil it for others.

However, here's a synopsis of what this book has to offer: Camilla has been estranged from her unruly family since she went to college, leaving behind a drug-addicted mother, a grandmother raising scads of abandoned grandchildren, and an addled great-aunt. Ashamed of her family and her race, she lightened her skin and adopted a false background. She is living a complete lie when tragedy strikes, and she discovers... Oops! again, I've said to much.

Bernice McFadden the author of Sugar, The Warmest December, and This Bitter Earth captivates her readers attention and won't let it go until the absolute end of her compelling stories.
View all my reviews >>

Say You're One of Them

Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
I am enjoying this wonderful literary find on audio. The Author, Uwem Akpan has done such a great job writing & creating such believable characters in this jubilantly acclaimed collection demonstrating the wisdom and resilience of children.
Additionally, the narrators:Robin Miles, Dion Graham, Kevin Free do such a wonderful job of bringing this story to life.

View all my reviews >>

NEW HEALTH CARE BILL THE AFFECTS IT MAY HAVE ON YOU

 

Once President Obama signs the new health care bill into law on Tuesday 23 March 2010, most Americans will see some immediate changes.

However, other changes, including mandated coverage for all U.S. residents, will take years to take effect. 

To see which benefits will start immediately and which will begin in 2014  Click here for an interactive guide.

Banir Ganatra – An Inclusive Philanthropist and More

Banir Ganatra is one of those individuals that reiterates through his actions that philanthropy isn’t exclusive to the rich and/or elderly, this young man empathizes through thought and deeds that self-development and humanity are the incentives that drive him.  Banir Ganatra, not only shares the belief & teachings of Tony Robbins who believes in the doctrine that happiness and success comes first to those who are most interested in helping others; but Ganatra is also a graduate of the Tony Robbins Mastery University.

Raised in Southern California, Banir Ganatra received his degree from San Diego State University in 2001.  Thereafter, Mr. Ganatra went into commercial real estate.   At the young age of 24 years old Banir Ganatra founded Equity Financial Group (EFG) and combined with his marketing insights and customer service strategies he managed to propel EFG into a multi-million dollar financial lending group.

Banir Ganatra’s passion for giving back is shown through his generous efforts; when his mother was stricken with a serious disease, the trauma made such an impact on him that he made significant contributions to medical research conducted at the University of California at Irvine.  When Banir Ganatra was informed by a family member who lives in India of the need for basic dental services, he used his connections with SoCalSmiles Dentistry to open a chartable dental clinic in Anandpur, one of the neediest cities in India.  Locally, he has contributed to the established of a homeless shelter that was located in the Armory in Santa Ana California.

SUPERBOWL - WHAT CAN I SAY?

It is Superbowl weekend people, what else can I say?  I could say GO SAINTS! or listen to others foolishly say, go Colts.  I could even break down the Saints chances of winning and provide you with endless feedback from the season's wins that have lead up to this moment.  I could even give you the stats for that other team, but what would be the fun in that? At this moment and for me, it would be pointless.  So what I'm going to say instead is, I'm going to hang out with family and friends while watching the annual sporting event to end all sporting events.  Eat, drink, laugh, and talk trash about the opponents; and have far too much fun poking fun at the ridiculously overpriced under-achieved advertisements, that for what they cost could have perhaps fed me and ALL my family and friends for the rest of our lives - well maybe not for the rest of our lives, but for at least the next 10 years or more.

I will perhaps edit this entry tomorrow prior to kick off time, then again, maybe not.  It depends - I have so much to do and so little time to complete my tasks.  Let's just say if I am able to, I will clean this post up a bit.  I'm not making any promises, after all I do have other issues on my plate - getting ready for game time can be challenging you know.  Oh crap, I have a proposal I'm suppose to write I should stop messing around and get right on that.  Pause for reality check ---- What am I thinking, I don't work on Sundays unless it is absolutely necessary, and I can assure you or myself if that's what it boils down to, it is not absolutely necessary to do anything today, other than what I will be doing - and that is...

Enjoying each and every moment of the day that I can.  What can I say?  I deserve a break and I couldn't have chosen a better day than today to take a break.  So if you deserve a break, take one and shout: Go Team!