Batteries.com 15% Off Coupon Code

Find batteries for practically anything at Batteries.com. Use coupon code "DAD2008" for 15% off. PriceGrabber.com has a 4.51 out of 5 all time rating on Batteries.com. Visit Batteries.com.

Windows 7 About to Make Vista Obsolete?

Have you upgraded to Microsoft Vista yet? If the answer is no you’re like me. I won’t even touch Vista until I absolutely have to. I was running Windows 2000 on an old machine as long as I could until I bought a new computer that I specifically requested Windows XP to be loaded onto it. Those individuals who haven’t made the jump to Vista yet might not have to because in an expected 2010 release date Microsoft will introduce Windows 7. Microsoft’s Vista is only a year and a half old and already they’re talking about a new operating system. Rumor is Windows 7 will support multi touch screens. May be they’re just trying to garner some buzz stealing Apple’s marketing hype machine dominance.

Reflecting on Earth Quake in China

I found this set of May 12^th 8.0 Magnitude Earth Quake in China pictures while browsing another blog. The pictures are so striking I had to share them with my readers. According to the associated press the death toll has risen to 68,109. The destructive power of the earth quake was so devastating it’s hard to fully grasp without actually going there. I think these pictures give a pretty good indication. The photos were taking at a wedding.

Source: lelandwong

My Memorial Day Weekend

I spent this Memorial Day Weekend river rafting in Idaho on the Lochsa River. I'd like to hear what you did this weekend, please comment.

Leaked Palm Treo 850 Photos and Information

Check out the leaked photos of the Palm Treo 850. This blog is all about saving money and I believe smart phones achieve this objective. Smart Phones like the Palm Treo 850 make you more productive out of the office. Do not, I repeat do not buy a Smart Phone if you will not make up the extra $50 per month a data package cell phone plan will cost you. They're hot right now, but don't jump on the bandwagon and pick up something that you don't need. Take the extra $600 a year you'll save and invest it or something.

Palm Treo 850 Features:

- Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
- Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE
- 3G/3.6 HSDPA (2100/1900/850 MHz)
- 320×320 pixel display (flush fitting)
- QWERTY keyboard
- 1500mAh battery
- 2 megapixel camera
- GPS
- Wi-Fi
- Bluetooth 2.0
- 400 MHz CPU
- 100 MB of RAM.
- Expected release date July 2008

ShutterFly.com Summer Photo Special

ShutterFly.com is offering $5.00 off $30.00 orders. Simply enter the coupon code "AF48-FEB1."

In addition to the $5 off special new members get 25 free 4x6 prints. Other promotions include 50% off large format prints and collage posters. Photobooks and canvas prints are 20% off.

I've ordered digital pictures from ShutterFly in the past and highly recommend them. The photos look great, but ShutterFly really stands out with their customizable photo calendars and photo books. I've made 3 calendars giving them out as gifts on birthdays and holidays.

Nordstrom.com, Nordstrom Buy Online Pick Up In-Store

Customers of the Nordstrom.com web site can now save even more by shopping online. Nordstrom announced today that shoppers will be allowed to ship to the store of their choice and pick up their merchandise for free. Essentially it's free shipping, just cost of you time and gas to the store. In addition to the pick up in-store option Norstrom has a 40% off or more sale going on. If you don't want to save on shipping by picking up your items in store Nordstrom.com offers free shipping on all orders over $200.

Download Videos for Free From YouTube, Break, and More

Download videos from all your favorite video sharing web sites. Simply download the program "Free Video Downloader 1.2", open the "fvd.exe" file, click on "download/convert" video file, enter the URL of the video you want to download, enter file name, convert to format of your choice, and finally click "get/convert." You're done, that's it! Sounds like a lot of steps, but it's really easy to use. Best of all it's free with no limitations on video length or file size. Download file here.

ZabaSearch.com - Find Anyone in the United States for Free

A people search engine so good it's scary. Zaba seems like one of those ideas that could either be used for good or bad. I don't think Zaba cares as long as they're getting traffic to their site. ZabaSearch does offer a free $20 instant opt-out service. It seems to me that this service should be free and this only reinforces my feelings that Zaba Search is one of the shadier internet operations out there. Take a look at Zaba for yourself.

Are Red Light Cameras a Scam?

Is the goal of red light cameras for safety or for scamming you out of money? Some say scam in the Las Angelas area based on new research done by the LA Times. See the May 19^th 2008 article here: http://www.latimes.com. “In Los Angeles, officials estimate that 80% of red light camera tickets go not to those running through intersections but to drivers making rolling right turns. The city of Los Angeles issued more than 30,000 photo tickets last year at 32 camera-equipped intersections. About 8 in 10 involved right turns, said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Matthew MacWillie, the program's co-coordinator.” Red light running violations in Los Angeles County aren’t cheep at $381. Rolling red light right hand turns still fetch a hefty $159 for what essentially is a legal turn. Since rolling turns are not a major safety concern in my opinion this suggests (not surprising) that cities motive for installing red light cameras has a lot to do with generating additional revenue and not necessarily about saving lives. I'd like to know your thoughts, please comment.

NetFlix, NetFlix.com Introduces Roku TV Boxes

I currently subscribe to NetFlix because of the high value they offer. For only $16.99 a month I rent 3 DVDs at a time with no monthly limit! I can also watch hundreds of movies from my PC at no additional cost through NetFlix.com. Now comes another groundbreaking way for me to enjoy my subscription in a 5-inch-by-5-inch device from the California startup Roku. The device downloads movies from the NetFlix web site and delivers them to your TV. For the 8.2 subscribers that would like this extra it will cost them $99 for the set top box. Once you hook up the device you’ll be able to unlimitedly stream over 10,000 movies. Best part of all you only need to have the $8.99 subscription to enjoy this service. Early reviews look promising, CrunchGear: "This is one of the most elegant and surprisingly usable dedicated devices I’ve seen in a long time. Unlike, say, the Kindle, everything here is almost perfect. As the literal incarnation of a web service, the Netflix Player by Roku is a true gem." Visit NetFlix.com

KFC Printable Coupons

I've been writing a lot lately about free fast food giveaways. More and more fast food restaurants are holding unheard of promotions I think because bloggers like me pick up these stories and write about them. Take for example, last week, with the free chicken sandwich giveaway from McDonald's. McDonald's made tons of money because everyone who received a free sandwich had to first buy a medium or large drink which basically cost zilch to McDonald's. KFC has a small promotion of their own in that they are offering free printable online coupons. Click here for KFC printable coupons.

StubHub.com $20 Off Any Ticket Purchase

StubHub is where fans buy and sell tickets. Currently StubHub is running a promotion where you get a $20.00 discount off any ticket purchase. Simply enter the coupon code "WEL040812Y6S" when you check out. Next time I go to the slumping 18-7 Mariners I'll be sure to use the coupon code!

Lower Prices Mean Taco Hell is Now Taco Bell

To get customers back into Taco Bell doors on Thursday they are introducing a new Value Meal. The slogan for the menu is “Why Pay More” The Taco Bell value menu will include 10 items four new products are priced at 79, 89, and 99 cents. Just a guess, but I bet most of the items include some combination of beans, cheese, and rice. The new menu items include the 89-cent Cheesy Double Beef Burrito, Triple Layer Nachos, Melted Three-Cheese Roll-Up, and the Big Taste Taco.

Open Source Smack Booster Could Increase Your Gas Mileage by 30%

Lowering the fuel cost burden is on everyone’s mind right now so I will continue to write about proven and lesser known ways, like the Smack Booster to save money on gasoline.

Dustin also known as “Smack” developed a device what he calls the “Smack Booster.” All his research is open sourced and for those who do not or cannot follow the plans is available for purchase. The Smack Booster kits are ready for shipping at $170 each http://www.smacksboosters.110mb.com.

I’m not even going to try to paraphrase what the Smack Booster does. Here’s what I could find, “The smacks booster is often referred to as a Hydroxy booster and consists of a small container of distilled water with a conductive additive. When an electric current is passed through the water it produces a gas mix commonly referred to as hydroxy. This hydroxy mix improves the quality of the burn inside the combustion chamber while reducing CO2 and other harmful emissions coming out of the exhaust. This improvement in burn quality makes your engine run more powerfully and smooth while reducing carbon deposits which have built up inside over its working life. The hydroxy output of the booster replaces a portion of the gasoline normally consumed by your engine. Typical mileage gain results have been averaging around 20% using this design (http://www.panacea-bocaf.org/smacksbooster.htm).”
Download the Smack Booster PDF design here: http://www.free-energy-info.co.uk/

So if it’s so good why hasn’t anyone tested it?

Well the design has been tested; lots of people in fact have tested the design. Take the blog http://rebels-roost.blogspot.com/2008/04/modified-smack-booster-finally.html for example. The author of this blog installed the Smack Booster on his van and was able to get 33% additional miles per gallon. From 32.24 MPG up from the baseline of 24.20 MPG. Unless everyone who’s writing about the Smack Booster design is lying it seems to work and definitely needs to be researched further.

Gas Saving Strategies That May Surprise You

Lights

1) Turn off your lights during the day time. Electrical equipment is powered from the alternator which will increase its burden on the engine to produce more power.

Speed Limit

2) Drive the speed limit. “Every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional 21 cents per gallon for gas (Sawyers-Specialties.com).”

Cruise Control

3) Use cruise control which can help improve fuel consumptions rates up to 10%.

Maintenance

4) Check air filters, spark plugs, and tire pressure. “For tires, every pound under the recommendation accounts for a loss of 2% in miles per gallon (Greenlivingideas.com).”

Weight

5) Reduce total car weight by taking out your spare tire, tire jack, and general clutter. Anything you can do to make your car weigh less will improve its gas mileage. This includes not completely filling up the gas tank. Instead try filling it ¼ of the way to reduce total weight.

Gas Grade

6) Switch from premium to regular gas. This works for many vehicles that recommend premium only. According to Clark Howard of the Clark Howard radio show, “Only about 5 percent of cars in the country really need premium gas, yet 20 percent of all gas sold is premium (ClarkHoward.com).” Edmunds further backs up Mr. Howard’s statement in this article Edmunds.com.

Warehouse Clubs

7) Only buy your gas from discount clubs saving you 5-15 cents a gallon.

Air Conditioning

Try not to use the air conditioner if you don’t have to.

Tires

9) “Use steel-belted radial tires. They increase gas mileage up to 10% (FinancialPlan.About.com).”

Credit Card

10) Look into discount gas card offers like the one offered by Discover Card which offers 5% cash back on gas purchases.

BKindy.com, The Burger King Indiana Jones $10,000 Daily DIG

It seems out of all the fast food restaurants Burger King takes advantage of viral marketing the most often (think subservient chicken a few years ago, http://www.subservientchicken.com) . To tie in with the new highly anticipated thus highly marketed Indiana Jones movie Burger King has launched BKIndy.com. BK meaning Burger King and Indy of course meaning Indiana Jones. Simply go to BK Indy sign up and enter your “DIG” code. Everyday Burger King will give away $10,000 to the one talented winner who digs up the treasure. On the “DIG” virtual world game map it states, “Enter your code, then watch the beam, when your gut says it’s the right time click DIG.” Good luck my friends!

Dunkin Donuts Free Iced Coffee Thursday 15th

Not to be outshined by the McDonald’s Free Chicken Sandwich offer Dunkin Donuts is offering a free iced coffee today from from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Thursday 15th. Check out the free Dunkin Donuts Free Iced Coffee offer. This is Dunkin’ Donuts second, nationwide Free Iced Coffee Day. In addition to the free coffee Dunkin Donuts will be donating $80,000 to the National Police Athletic League.

Thursday 15th is McDonald's Free Chicken Sandwich Day

McDonald’s seems to be going crazy with freebies these days. First, it was the free Latte offer now it’s the free chicken sandwich. You must buy a medium or large drink tomorrow (Thursday May 15th) and McDonald’s will give you a free Southern Style Chicken Biscuit or Southern Style Chicken Sandwich. The biscuit according to McDonald’s is “homemade tasting” and the chicken on both sandwiches is made of “all white meat.” Hooray for McDonald’s stepping up their quality game with a "homemade tasting" biscuit. Check out the free chicken sandwich offer.

Absolutely Free Cell Phone Text Messaging

I am so tired of paying to text message my friends. Does it make any sense for phone companies to charge extra to send tiny text files? Doesn't make sense to me! I found the solution... The site is called TextForFree.net You just enter the subject line of the text, subject, and phone number of the cell phone you're trying to text. Once you click submit it only took about 1 second to reach my cell phone. The only downside it at the bottom of the text message it has an ad for TextForFree.net.

More Buzz For the Buck - Starbucks New Perks

Starbucks in effort to compete with competitors such as: Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's is announcing new incentives to get you to come back. I don’t know about you, but I’ve stopped going to Starbucks. I feel I get a much better product and overall experience at my local coffee shop (Caffé Vita) than the overpriced and under delivering Starbucks. So what new freebies do you get from Starbucks? Free Syrup shots and milk substitutes, free drink with bean purchase, free refills on drip coffee, and free Wi-Fi. In order to get these Starbucks freebies you must pay with a prepaid Starbucks charge card, which holds up to $500. One more catch I forgot to mention Wi-Fi is not unlimited it’s only good for 2 hours. Even after this I still feel I get a better deal at my local coffee shop one of which gives you a free computer and broadband time with purchase of a coffee. Let me know if you will be visiting Starbucks more often with these new incentives.

Official 9malls.com Hands On Test of The Magic Jack

Watch the official 9malls.com hands on test of the Magic Jack installation process. I review, install, and test Magic Jack, MagicJack.com. This is a full review from beginning of the install process to testing voice quality.



See open the Magic Jack packaging and reading the material that came with the Magic Jack.

I Need the New BlackBerry Bold, RIM BlackBerry 9000

The BlackBerry Bold is not only a gorgeous phone it’s also functional. More functional than the iPhone I would suggest, especially for business use. The BlackBerry bold is designed to take away market share from Apple’s iPhone. “The BlackBerry held a 41% market share for smartphones in the US last year, but iPhone went from zero to hold 28% (Guardian.co.uk).” So lets see the features:

Screen Resolution

The BlackBerry has Half-VGA (480×320 pixel resolution) and a 65,000-color display. One word, amazing! Some are saying they have never seen such a sharp display on a smart phone.

Dimensions

The BlackBerry Bold measures 4.5 inches tall by 2.6 inches wide by half an inch deep, and it weighs 4.7 ounces.

Wireless Options

“Quad-band (GSM 850/900/1800/1900) BlackBerry Bold, but the most appetizing and notable item is the HSDPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100) support. You also get integrated Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g), Bluetooth 2.0 with full A2DP support, and built-in GPS (enhanced and assisted) (News.com).”

Processor

The BlackBerry contains a 624MHz Intel PXA270 processor.

Cool Features

Phone has a built in 2.0 megapixel camera with video-recording capabilities and up to 5x zoom.

Carrier

Carrier will be AT&T. “The BlackBerry Bold 9000, due exclusively in the United States through AT&T, will be the first BlackBerry sold by a U.S. carrier to operate globally in 3G (third-generation) wireless networks (Twice.com).”

Price

Estimated price is $300-$400

Availability

Summer 2008

Just Ordered My Magic Jack

Hey everyone! I just ordered my Magic Jack which I will review (both through writing and video/audio demonstration). Please subscribe to my RSS feed to get all the details regarding what I think of the Magic Jack. The product cost me $40 + $7 shipping. There is currently a 30 day no risk trial, so if I don’t like the product I can send it back. The ordering process was very quick and easy. I just entered in my contact information and selected how many Magic Jack’s I wanted. One thing that was kind of annoying about the ordering process is after I though I placed my order Magic Jack wanted to upsell me more long distance, rush shipping, etc. I hate this kind of ad-on bull shit. Anyway, the Magic Jack is one its way!

My Review of The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss

I just began reading a book that I got on my birthday titled, ‘The 4-Hour Work Week Escape 9-5, Live anywhere, and Join the New Rich’ by Timothy Ferriss.

I’ve only delved into the first 30 pages, but some exceptional words of wisdom spouted by the author Timothy Ferriss hit me. Mr. Ferris says, “If you can free your time and location, your money is automatically worth 3-10 as much.” This fits perfectly for the affiliate marketing lifestyle. Your time is free because you can work as much or as little as you want, even making money while you sleep. Additionally affiliate marketers location is free because you can do affiliate marketing anywhere in the world with a broadband connection.

Going into this quote further Timothy Ferriss explains, “Being financially rich and having the ability to live like a millionaire and fundamentally two different things.” I totally agree with this statement because if you make $100,000 a year, but only have 2 weeks of vacation or less what’s the point of making all that money in the first place? Now say you make $60,000 a year as a Blogger, but only work 2 hours a day and can take vacations whenever they want. Who would you rather be? Conventional wisdom would say the wealthy man making $100,000 a year, but I’d take the Blogger making $60,000 any day. Wouldn’t you rather be Blogging on a tropical island in the pacific than stuck in an office stressed out beyond belief? It’s about quality of life rather than money in the bank.

“Money is multiplied in practical value depending on the number of W’s you control in your life: what you do, when you do it, where you do it, and whom you do it with.” The author calls this the freedom multiplier. Using the freedom multiplier the author argues “the 80 hour per week investment banker is less powerful than the person working ¼ the hours for $40,000.” He looks at the “lifestyle output of the money.”

I like this book so far because it’s counterintuitive. It’s a new perspective on something, especially since the invention of the Internet and the flattening world, is now possible to achieve. Because of the Internet one can be free from time and space and achieve a billionaire’s lifestyle at only a fraction of the income.

I’ll keep you posted on any new revelations I learn from the 4 Hour Work Week!