Thursday, August 27, 2009

YourSphere.com A New Social Networking Site for Kids



A new website, yoursphere.com was premiered on Fox and Friends this morning claiming that their extra protection makes it safer for your children to be able to use social networking without the fear of online predators.

But wait, did you think that websites like MySpace and Facebook were safe already?  There are currently over 90,000 online predators, and statistics state that 1 in 5 minors will be sexually exploited in some manner.  This staggering statistic is what lead to the creation of the site yoursphere.com.

The site requires verifiable parental consent.  The site boasts that no fake profiles can be created.  I'm not exactly sure how they get around this because of things like proxy servers, identity theft, etc.  I tried to go to the site, but of course, after being premiered this morning, the site was unable to handle the data load and is down.

Although YourSphere has extra security measures, nothing is fool proof.  The very best way to know what your children are doing is to keep an open line of communication with them. 

*YourSphere was created by  Mary Kay Hoal, mother of 5 children ranging in ages from 4-17.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Graphic Video to Discourage Texting While Driving

A British public service announcement is GRAPHIC, but sometimes that's what we need to get our attention.  In what has now become epidemic, texting while driving has been recently responsible for too many deaths and accidents that happen needlessly.

The video depicts a driver texting while driving her car (along with her friends in the car as passengers), and then runs into another car, killing 4 people in the process.

This is not a video for younger viewers, but you might consider allowing your teenage driver to view the video.  It is definitely an attention getter.

To view the video, click here:  Graphic Teen Texting While Driving Video

Show it to every driving teen that you care about.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

The Bible...Not Just a Trend

It was really good to see 2 different scriptures in the top 100 searches of Google today:

1.  Deuteronomy Chapter 6:
A Call for Wholehearted Commitment
   “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3 Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[a] 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
 10 “The Lord your God will soon bring you into the land he swore to give you when he made a vow to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is a land with large, prosperous cities that you did not build. 11 The houses will be richly stocked with goods you did not produce. You will draw water from cisterns you did not dig, and you will eat from vineyards and olive trees you did not plant. When you have eaten your fill in this land, 12 be careful not to forget the Lord, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. 13 You must fear the Lord your God and serve him. When you take an oath, you must use only his name.
 14 “You must not worship any of the gods of neighboring nations, 15 for the Lord your God, who lives among you, is a jealous God. His anger will flare up against you, and he will wipe you from the face of the earth. 16 You must not test the Lord your God as you did when you complained at Massah. 17 You must diligently obey the commands of the Lord your God—all the laws and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go well with you. Then you will enter and occupy the good land that the Lord swore to give your ancestors. 19 You will drive out all the enemies living in the land, just as the Lord said you would.
 20 “In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the Lord our God has commanded us to obey?’
 21 “Then you must tell them, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand. 22 The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes, dealing terrifying blows against Egypt and Pharaoh and all his people. 23 He brought us out of Egypt so he could give us this land he had sworn to give our ancestors. 24 And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. 25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.’ (Biblegateway.com)


It's not about obeying a "bunch of rules and regulations". It's about a relationship with the Living God. As a Christian, I am to think on God's Word at all times, and teach it to my children (Proverbs 22:6).  And just how hard is it to love the One who has forgiven ALL of my sins, mistakes, regrets?  I thank Him DAILY for this.  And when I fail at any of the things He wants me to do, there's even more forgiveness.  I'm not saved by my actions, but by my faith in the One who has forgiven me.  My actions come as a result of my thankfulness.

2.  Psalms 27:
A psalm of David.
 1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
      so why should I be afraid?
   The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
      so why should I tremble?
 2 When evil people come to devour me,
      when my enemies and foes attack me,
      they will stumble and fall.
 3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
      my heart will not be afraid.
   Even if I am attacked,
      I will remain confident.
 4 The one thing I ask of the Lord
      the thing I seek most—
   is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
      delighting in the Lord’s perfections
      and meditating in his Temple.
 5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
      he will hide me in his sanctuary.
      He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
 6 Then I will hold my head high
      above my enemies who surround me.
   At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
      singing and praising the Lord with music.

 7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord.
      Be merciful and answer me!
 8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
      And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.”
 9 Do not turn your back on me.
      Do not reject your servant in anger.
      You have always been my helper.
   Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me,
      O God of my salvation!
 10 Even if my father and mother abandon me,
      the Lord will hold me close.

 11 Teach me how to live, O Lord.
      Lead me along the right path,
      for my enemies are waiting for me.
 12 Do not let me fall into their hands.
      For they accuse me of things I’ve never done;
      with every breath they threaten me with violence.
 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness
      while I am here in the land of the living.

 14 Wait patiently for the Lord.
      Be brave and courageous.
      Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

(Biblegateway.com)

And this scripture too is about a full commitment to the Living God-Jesus Christ.  David, as any other Christian, takes refuge in his God, KNOWING that God is always there.

If you don't have this relationship with Jesus, if you don't know for sure that if you died today that you would go to Heaven, call on His name today.  Come just as you are.  Don't try to straighten things out first...let HIM do the straightening out.  He will change your desires....He will change your thoughts...the things that are important now, will not be as important to you.  TODAY is the day of salvation...don't wait to call on His name.  

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Avatar The Last Airbender Trailer Summer 2010



When we went to see Transformers 2 at the movie theater it was the first time my daughters had seen the preview to the new Avatar movie. They were in Awe! They love to watch Avatar the anime series and really can't stand that they have to wait until next summer to see the new movie.

The Last Air Bender is based on the animation Avatar: The Last Airbender. It is directed by M. Night Shyamalan who has directed many other great movies such as The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, The Village, Signs, The Happening and many more.

The Last Air Bender will be released in theaters July 2, 2010

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Kids Woot....Woot For Kids or The Child at Heart!

Woot. Gotta love it. Gotta love the "woot-off".

And now your kids can too! No, they're not selling kids now, as the website plainly explains. They're not even trying to sell anything TO your kids.

They are selling things FOR your kids. It's Kids Woot!

What are they selling?
As of right now, the LeapFrog Didj Ultimate Customization Pack with Free game is for sale.
EA Sports Active Bundle (Works w/ Balance Board)

And, nothing says you HAVE to be a kid to enjoy the things on Kids Woot.

If you've never visited Woot.com before, make sure you also check out:

Blockbuster Movies On Your Mobile Phone

The video store...when is the last time you've been to one?

This is what Blockbuster decision makers have been thinking about. That's why they are ready to make "thousands" of films available via Motorola phones.

The official date of availability has not yet been released, but at least now you know it's on it's way.

Making various efforts such as rental through the mail, Blockbuster Vending Kiosks, and more, the company hopes to chase down customers who no longer step foot into a video store.

In the meantime, you can still check out the Blockbuster website and check out games like Madden NFL 10 or G.I. Joe-The Rise of Cobra. Or just get someone that loves movies and games a Blockbuster gift card.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Duodec Mom: A Dozen Babies On The Way?

An unnamed mother of potentially 12 children is a popular search right now.

That's right.....12 babies!

Unfortunately, the survival rate of so many children at once is low. According to experts, usually any number over 5 becomes extremely high risk. But, this didn't stop Nadya Suleman "The Octuplet Mom" from having 8 children earlier this year.

I had to do a search for "duodec" to get the definition since I was unfamiliar with the term.


If all 12 babies come to term, it will be a new world record.

A lot of prayer is needed for this family as they move forward with this astounding pregnancy.


Everybody Loves Raymond Website

If you're a fan of the show Everybody Loves Raymond, check out EverybodyLovesRay.com.

On the website, you can find out information about the stars (Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton-who happens to be a popular search item right now, Brad Garrett, Doris Roberts, and Peter Boyle) as well as info about guest stars that have appeared on the show.




You can also play free flash games like Barone Bowling, Ray's Hole in One Golf Game, Ray's Great Escape, and more!

If that's not enough, you can also check out sound bytes, wallpapers, photos, awards, and more!

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale: Experience the Hurricane Via Flash Video

Technology is so great.

Now you can "experience" a hurricane from your computer or mobile device via a Flash video simulation.

The videos (categorized 1-5) are interactive, allowing you to pan left and right to see what each category of hurricane might look like.

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The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale itself was proposed in 1971 by Robert Simpson and Herbert Saffir. That scale is based on hurricane intensity.

So go ahead, experience the hurricane at this link: Experience the Hurricane.
doodle.png  on Aviarydoodle.png on Aviary.


After that, check out the hurricane tracking map at this link: StormPulse.com.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Parkersburg Tornado of 2008 on 20/20

Did anyone catch the 20/20 special last night about the Parkersburg Iowa tornado?

In this day and age, we are blessed enough to have such technologies as the National Weather Service and satellite radar to give people in the path of such things a warning ahead of time.

But even with the warning, a tornado the size of the one shown last night still reaps massive destruction to where the only important thing is survival.

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It may seem like common sense to take cover whenever the tornado sirens in your area sound, or whenever you hear the tornado warning on your local news, but many admittedly do not immediately do so. People tend to want to watch, or to video the threat. I cannot stress enough--TAKE COVER. Even if the threat seems like it's not yet arrived, flying debris can cause severe injury or death. Check out these tornado safety tips: Tornado Safety.

I did a search and found this from the Weather Channel's website: Stormwatch which includes coverage of the inland hurricane that hit my area. Just last night on the news I saw "I Survived The Inland Hurricane of 2009" t-shirts.

To check out the 20/20 special online video, click here: 20/20 Special: Blown Away, Twisted Terror.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Get Paid to Play Video Games-Awesome!

Yes it's true, you REALLY can get paid to play video games.


I'm not talking about as a game tester, where some people do make a decent amount of money to play video games. If you figure out how to get one of those jobs, please let me know :-) Think how cool it would be to get paid to play Madden 2010!


What I AM talking about is the employees at Grinnell Computers. On Friday afternoons, the employees can get paid to play a video game called Combat Arms (by Nexon) while ON THE CLOCK!

Why?
In a quote, Grinnell stated, "It's about bonding." I know what he means be a fan of online game playing with people you know, or the occasional LAN party. It can be a lot of fun.

Employees at Grinnell Computers agree as they tend to shoot their boss whenever possible...online of course.

Electronic Arts (EA Games) has reportedly done the same by letting employees play a particular video game in order to get it out on the market sooner.

It's a WIN-WIN situation!


Get Paid to Wear Tshirts

Get paid to wear tshirts?

That's what Jason Sadler of IwearYourShirt.com does each day now.


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Jason has convinced companies to pay him to wear their tshirt using his body as advertising space.

What's the price?
The day of the year is the amount, so January 1, 2009 was $1 to wear a company tshirt for 1 day. December 31st will be $365 to wear a tshirt for one day.

He not only wears the tshirts, but then blogs about it (hmmm, why didn't I think of that)!

Here's to wishing Jason well in his endeavor! Check out his CNN interview here: Get Paid To Wear Tshirts or you can see how to play games online for money here: Play Games Online For Money.



Thursday, August 13, 2009

To Wii, Or Not To Wii...

...is that the question?

There's no doubt that my family and I LOVE our Nintendo Wii. We waited over a year before purchasing one to save money, and to let those "gotta have it now" shoppers test out all the features in case there were any recalls, defects, etc.

Though the Wii has been out for some time now, there are 2 recalls that are currently a buzz online.

1. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has called for a recall of many of the Rage wireless guitars because of an issue with batteries and the circuit board. Apparently, the board can allow leaks, which could lead to chemical burns of players, which is really more realism than I care for! (see the recall here: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Rage Guitar Recall)

The Official Guitar Hero Store

2. For those of you that have purchased the Wii remote charging stations instead of always replacing the batteries like I do, another case of overheating and possibly a burn hazard. (see the recall here: Wii Charger Recall)


Video Game Rentals Delivered

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Texting To Outer Space?

If it were possible to send a text message into outer space, would you?

Well, from now until August 24th, you can via the Australian website www.hellofromearth.net.

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With no guarantee of a response (really?!) and the possibility of your message taking up to 20 years to be delivered, many still feel that this is there way of searching for intelligent life on another planet.

And if you were hoping for an un-moderated delivery of your text message, forget it. Each message will be moderated before sending, and any inappropriate messages will be denied according to the website.

We don't want E.T. thinking badly of us, right?!

Google on Caffeine

It's no secret that Google is the most dominant search engine on the web today.

So what is "Google on Caffeine"? Well it's actually not what you might think. It's not a pot of coffee or 10 Red Bull drinks dumped into the popular search engine (but hmmm, what WOULD that do?!). It's actually an "under the hood" tweak that Google is doing to make it's current search capabilities even better/faster.

Why the change?
For one, Google did not become the dominant search engine it is today by simply living in a world of status quo, but as rumored by some, is nearly daily tweaking it's capabilities.

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Wanna see it?
Check out this link: Google Caffeine

Do your own side by side comparison and notice the slight speed increase that Google Caffeine has (my search yielded .10 seconds with Google Caffeine as opposed to .12 seconds with regular Google).

Monday, August 10, 2009

Red Dawn Movie: Remake?

"WOLVERINES!"

That was the cry of the high school kids turned guerrilla soldiers defending their hometown from an invasion in the 1984 movie "Red Dawn" that starred such actors as:
  • Patrick Swayze
  • Lea Thompson
  • Charlie Sheen
  • Harry Dean Stanton
  • Powers Boothe
I have to say this is an old favorite of mine, and I'm looking forward to the remake due out in 2010. The original version is PG-13.

As always, for more information you can check out IMDB.com.

If you've never seen the movie, it's worth a watch. Pick up a copy at your local video store or search for it online here:
Hollywood gifts! 3000+ Gifts

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Zone 40 Wireless Game Console--But what is it?

Get the Zone40 Game Console Cheap on eBay!





I see in this week's CVS flyer, there is a game console that is causing much buzz on Google:

-Zone 40 Game Console with wireless controllers

Why is it such a buzz? It's probably a popular search right now because no one really has much information about it on the web. But, with a low price tag of $39.99 (regular price: $79), it's enough to get bargain hunting game enthusiasts curious.

With 40 built-in games, I'm thinking there is no opportunity for expansion, so is this really a deal?


I couldn't find any information as to: "Who manufactures the Zone 40?" If you didn't get an insert in your newspaper, you can view the store circular online at CVS.com

But I could find that it is being sold as a budget conscious option to the wii. To me, that's like offering a calculator as a budget conscious option to a personal PC :-)

At any rate, CVS has it in their store circular, so if anyone picks one up, let me know if you like it.

P.S. Check out How to Play Games Online for Money (so glad I found this!)


Update 9/9/09--New update to this post


Friday, August 7, 2009

Redbox Rentals Too Cheap?


What?
In this time of economic turmoil when families are doing everything they can to stretch their hard earned dollars even further, Fox has decided it wants more money for it's entertainment.

"Fox effectively has enlisted in Universal's campaign against Redbox and other discount-rental chains by ordering wholesalers to stop supplying discs to Redbox kiosks during the first 30 days after Fox film and television titles hit the market." (reuters.com)

Why? Because the inexpensive $1.00 that Redbox charges for these films is not enough, with Fox blaming: "diminishing rental revenue and undermining DVD sales" (reuters.com).

It is true that even during the current economic situation, the entertainment industry has still done pretty well with families still spending money wanting an "escape" from the real. But everyone wants more for their money, right?

Where can you find a Redbox movie vending machine? Check out this FIND A REDBOX link.

And, if the $1.00 rental isn't enough to get you to try it, sign up for their free newsletter on their website to get FREE REDBOX MOVIE CODES!

Redbox has been a part of our family some time now, and we love it! So even if Fox has decided their movies won't be available during the first 30 days of release, we will still continue to rent from our local Redbox Movie Vending machine.

Happy $1.00 Movie Watching!

(for more tips on saving money, stretching your dollar, etc, check out the Stay At Home Mom's Money Savers!)

The New GI Joe Movie "Not as bad as you would think!"

"Not as bad as you would think" ???

How's THAT for a movie review? I am personally excited to see the new film GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009).

I remember as a young boy watching the animated series of GI Joe and his battles with Cobra! I've heard that this film is the animation I remember come to life!

I think my generation is one of the best ones for seeing the older popular cartoons and hits coming BACK for a second run. Consider some favorite remakes such as Scooby Doo, Transformers, ...the list goes on and on!

Anytime I want more information about a film before going to see it, I check out the Internet Movie Database. Check out the link to this film here: GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009).

Go Joe!