Bradsblog

Funny Jokes Contest

2006-05-28T18:57:00.000-04:00

There's a contest going on over at Funny Joke Site, the winner of the best joke or picture submitted will win $30 cash. I'd say it's worth checking out, or at least checking some of the entries!

Uncertain

2006-02-26T21:49:00.000-05:00

Ok, I find myself at a crossroads now. Even though I currently own 23 websites on "real" domains, I find myself torn over whether or not to register yet another domain for my blog. I would like to have a blog, I guess to share with my family and close friends more personal information.

I'm back here now....For a bit

2006-02-26T12:59:00.000-05:00

I have made yet another command level decision regarding my bblog. I think that for the time beong, I will maintain this blog(on blogger) for more personal items such as wat's going on with me, and things like that.

My other blog, will now be known as Brads Reviews and will be reserved for reviews only. I will still maintain my share of product and website reviews there.

In the future, I might move yet again to another personal blog. I just felt like I was trying to cover too broad of topics there.

BradsBlog

2005-10-05T19:41:00.000-04:00

BradsBlog

Ok, I'm moved. Please change any links you might have to the following:

Or, You can now get a Bradsblog Button Link:

Moving Out

2005-10-04T19:56:00.000-04:00

Well, It looks like today is moving day. I am getting situated on my New Blog. Please update all shortcuts, bookmarks, and links to: http://www.bradsblog.net Thanks a bunch!

Baking Stones

2005-10-04T19:15:00.000-04:00

When my wife told me she wanted to purchase some baking stones from The Pampered Chef, I was strongly against it. "We have plenty of cooking pans." I told her. She talked me into it, and she bought several pieces. Well, that was about a year ago, and I wouldn't want to cook with anything else! These stones are very easy to clean. In fact, you shouldn't use soap on them, just scrape them off, give it a good wipe with a wet clean cloth and there you go! Since we've had them, they seem to get easier to clean, I guess becasue the oils that absorb in the stone. I would recommend these to anyone! They might cost a little more, but are well worth it!

Alaska Airlines smells like fish

2005-10-04T07:15:00.000-04:00

Alaska Airlines unvealed a new paintjob on a Beoing 737, making the plane look like a giant salmon. This paintjob took nearly a month to complete, and cost roughly $500,000. I laughed about it until I heard that this paintjob was paid for by the American taxpayer. This is pork barrel spending at it's finest! The official excuse is to promote the Alaskan seafood market

Bradsblog is Moving!

2005-10-01T17:26:00.000-04:00

Well I've been pondering it for a while, and I registered today the domain name of www.bradsblog.net. I am not sure if I will continue to use blogger or move on to wordpress, but I certainly will keep you informed. I am very excited about this move!!!!Be sure to keep checking back for details!

POWWEB

2005-10-01T07:16:00.000-04:00

As many of you know, I run several websites. Two of which are hosted with Powweb. While I am overall dissatisfied with the service I am receiving, I can do nothing at this point but unleash the wrath of my blog powers. First of all, after I signed up with them, through rookie ignorance, I learned that they are a bit pricey if you have multiple domains. Second, there seem to be more outages than normal servers. Last night, I lost contact with two of my websites- www.stampingallery.com and www.blog-hints.com. I checked the powweb website and they said they're working on it. This is bullcrap. If you are in the market for a web server, I would recommend Dreamhost. They are cheaper and have less outages. Contact me and I can get you a discount link.

Taylor 5553 Body Fat Analyzer Bath Scale

2005-09-29T08:42:00.000-04:00

I bought this scale about 14 months ago, and have been quite pleased with it. I have read several reviews on Amazon.com and they have been a bit poor. I have replaced the 9 volt battery once since I've had it, and the reading are fairly consistent.(You need to stand the same way every time) If you want a good reading, make sure your scale is on a level surface, and if you are measuring BMI(Body Mass Index) it is best if your feet are a bit damp. Overall I am pleased with this product.

Crystal Light

2005-09-28T17:09:00.000-04:00

Ever since I started my diet back in July, fluid intake has been a cornerstone of it. The best way for me to get my water intake was to hammer the Crystal Light(made by Kraft Foods). Since I started drinking this beverege, I have found that many stores offer their generic version of this. I do most of my shopping at Kroger, and they offer an off brand. Target and Walmart also serve up this tasty beverege in generic fashion. The generic version tasted just as good and is normally about half the price. From my experience, Walmart has the biggest selection of drinks over the other stores in my area. If you are dieting, or just like to eat healthy, I highly recommend Crystal Light or any of the spin-offs.
*Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine

Diet Update

2005-09-25T20:48:00.000-04:00

What started off with me taking part in the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic, I lost about 10-15 pound on it before I decided that I couldn't find myself time to journal all the food I was eating. So, I decided to quit them and go along on my own. To tell you the truth, it really hasn't been all that tough. Don't get me wrong, i still go nuts on ice cream and occassionally pizza, but for the most part, it's lots of green veggies and poultry. I never knew turkey burgers could be so good! So, I am down to around 180 pounds, I started off over 200. I do not have a "goal", because I don't want to claim victory then quit and gain it all back.

Blog-Hints Button

2005-09-21T17:09:00.000-04:00

Now you can get a Blog-Hints button for your blog!

I built this blog-hints button for people to add to their blogs instead of a text link. I kinda' like the button better. Let me know what you think!!!Here is the code:

No Cage Eggs

2005-09-20T20:58:00.000-04:00

Well, just when you think you've seen it all. I was at Kroger yesterday doing some needed grocery shopping and as I was grabbing an 18 pack of eggs that were on sale ($ .99) I noticed an egg carton for sale. It was the animal rights version of eggs. These are the eggs for people that like to treat the animal good before eating it. I guess farmer Brown lets the chickens roam all over the farm and he picks up the eggs wherever they drop. The funny thing is, these eggs were going for about $2.50 per dozen. I couldn't help but laugh about it.

Syndication Contest

2005-09-18T12:20:00.000-04:00

Increase your blogs exposure with a free month of front page synidacation on www.Blog-Hints.com. Post your best blog post during the month of September and the winner will be syndicated on the Home Page for 1 month! See RULES for details

NASCAR – Don’t screw it up

2005-09-17T06:44:00.000-04:00

I really enjoy watching a NASCAR race on Sunday afternoon. I happen to be a Tony Stewart fan. Like many I know, I must question the new “NASCAR Playoffs”, or Race to the Nextel Cup as it’s called. NASCAR decided to do this for a couple of reasons.

First, they don’t like the idea of losing fans to Sunday Football.
Second, and this is the one that aggravates me, with ten races left, they take the top drivers and reset their points so that the top driver is within 50 points of the lowest contender. They then finish out the season, and the highest points winner wins the cup. This would keep many fans interested as long as their driver was a contender. However, this year, most of the more popular drivers are not in contention (Dale Earnhart jr, Jeff Gordon, etc) and therefore all their fans have nothing to look forward to.(So why watch the race?)

Well, I like NASCAR over many other sports because I don’t need to worry about hearing about labor contract disputes, steroids, or really anything else. The problem is NASCAR is moving away from what the fans want, and more towards the big money business decisions

Entertainment Book

2005-09-16T10:17:00.000-04:00

My wife and I have decided not to buy the Entertainment books that my son's school puses for a fund raiser. I was curious what others felt about them. It seems like you use a couple of coupons right after you buy the book, then you kind of forget about the book the rest of the year.

NFL-Superbowl.net FORUMS

2005-09-13T06:56:00.000-04:00

The big power outage in the Los Angelos area yesterday knocked out my new NFL-Superbowl site for most of the day. This morning, I did some upgrades to the site, as well as posted a few topics in the forums. I invite everyone to visit the forums and let me know wat you think!

NFL-Superbowl

2005-09-11T20:01:00.000-04:00

Just to put out the word, I launched a new website tonight. It is www.nfl-superbowl.net. It will have a discussion forum, and have quick links to most NFL type sites. Give it a click and check it out!

One Step Ahead Hearth Cushion

2005-09-10T15:26:00.000-04:00

Well, against my wishes, my wife purchased a Hearth Cushion, made by One Step Ahead. She paid roughly $60 for it, and after it was all put on, the cushion does not adhere to the hearth very well at all. In fact, this, in my opinion, was a complete waste of money.

Microsoft Word Add On

2005-09-10T00:10:00.000-04:00

Well I just downloaded the Microsoft Word Add-on for blogger. So, finally I can compose my blogs in Word.(as I’m doing now) You can get yours here. Let me know what you think of it!

Ads on Blogs

2005-09-09T22:07:00.000-04:00

When I first started blogging, it was only for fun. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy doing it, but now I have ads on it. At first, I remember thinkign to myself "Who would ever put ads in their blog?". Over time, I began to rethink things. The ads in my blog don't generate much of anything, but a little is better than nothing. It's my blog, can't I do what I want with it?

Link Exchange

2005-09-09T00:10:00.000-04:00

I will offer link exchanges on BradsBlog (real link, not blogroll) as well as the blog-hints directory and only ask that you post a link to blog-hints in your blog. Post requests here, and not in the comments for recommendation. However, I will not honor porn sites, or anything like that. I am n the process of phasing out my blogroll list and creating a real link exchange section.

Link Exchange update

2005-09-08T12:43:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm not an HTML guru, but I am figuring that if I post a link on blogroll as a link exchange, it is not actually helping that site/blog becasue the link is actually not in my code. I plan to gradually put these links in a special links section.

2005-09-04T10:12:00.000-04:00

Well, there is now a forum on blog-hints.com. It could be a good resource for getting blog-related questions answered. Also you can post you blog link there to get a review and comments on it. Here is the link
http://www.blog-hints.com/forum/index.php

Major League Baseball

2005-09-03T07:28:00.000-04:00

For most of my life, I have been a pretty loyal Reds fan. However, over the last few years, I have been less and less interested. Finally, this year I cannot recall watching or listening to a complete game. I remember not to long ago, my wife was growing very frustrated with me becasue I would always have teh game on. I know the Reds haven't been doing very well lately. In fact, they downright suck. But I don't think that has much to do with it. I think it has more to do with baseball in general. I am so sick and tired of hearign the bickering between the owners and the players union. How much money does a person need to get paid to play baseball? Some post the arguement:"The owners are making money hand over fist!" Well who cares? Their the owners. Why shouldn't they? Then there's the whole steroid issue. The whole thing makes me sick to my stomach. Do the players think I am so stupid to believe that they aren't juiced? So, I think I am going to stick to other sports instead.

Katrina Fund Raiser

2005-09-02T14:31:00.000-04:00

A guy I know from a discussion forum also runs a magazine subscription service and is collecting for the red cross. Here is his original post:

Help the Katrina Victim's and get Redbook Magazine Free One Year Subscription
I am going to dontate a 1.00 for every sign-up to this offer to help the Katrina Victim's.
I will post updates periodically during the day of how many people have signed up and how much will be donated.

Get a Free Year of Redbook when you sign up for clubmom. Redbook is a magazine geared towards young women.
Redbook Magazine Free One Year Subscription when you sign up
Here is the link!!!
http://www.mb01.com/lnk.asp?o=297&c=2675&a=6753&s1=Katrina

The Katrina Blame Game

2005-09-02T06:49:00.000-04:00

I am sure I’m not alone in saying that I have been quite addicted to the coverage of the disaster on the gulf coast. Before the storm, I saw the mayor of New Orleans and many other local/state government officials talking about evacuation, etc. The news programs showed the neat graphics of the New Orleans “soup bowl” and how the levees are only built to withstand a category 3 hurricane. Is it just me, or wasn’t there a big scare just a couple of years ago when a hurricane was bearing down on them? So now, after all this, fingers are beginning to point. Most interviews I see on the news point to the federal government, many asking “Where is the help?” I agree. This is bull crap, all these people, no food, no water, the dead in the street. You would think they were in a third world country somewhere. When all the smoke clears, and the death toll from the aftermath, the “cluster”, exceeds the fatalities from the actual flooding, there will be some serious heads rolling at the national level. Sure you can blame the big shots for not responding fast enough, but I haven’t heard anything about the local officials. Everyone knew that the city would be destroyed if/when a big storm hit. Why has nothing been done to prevent this?

Stampin' Gallery :: Index

2005-08-29T23:39:00.000-04:00

Well, it's official. My website for Stamping now has a discussion forum. Feel free to check it out. It is still being worked on, but it works now. Click Here to check it out!

Diet Update

2005-08-27T16:58:00.000-04:00

Well I abandoned the WebMD diet plan. It was nice and everything, very effective, but I just couldn't get myself to document everything I ate every day. So I cancelled my subscription and continued to follow the guidelines. As of this morning, I have lost 18 pounds and am still going strong!

Blog-Hints

2005-08-25T21:50:00.000-04:00

OK, I a ready to start listing Blog Sites in my directory. Everyone is welcome, and it will help improve your site rankings. I appreciate reciprical links, but they are not required. Just click the logo and away you go!!!

Blog-Hints

2005-08-24T22:49:00.000-04:00

Blog-Hints
Well I did some major renovations at blog-hints, I encourage you to check it out. I am also running the blog-directory with a script. This works great but I am still fine tuning it. Let me know what you think of it!

Blog-hints.com

2005-08-12T23:46:00.000-04:00

Blog-hints.com
Well there is a new blog directory, it's called blog-hints.com. You can put your blog address and they will add it to the listig. This will help draw attention from the search engines and possible add traffic to your own blog. It might be worth looking in to.

Stampin' Gallery

2005-08-12T04:27:00.000-04:00

Stampin' Gallery
Well, I officially own my own website now. You will be able to go here if you are interested in stamping as a hobby. You can visit the project gallery or shop!!! Feel free to check it out!!!www.stampingallery.com

Direct Buy Update

2005-08-07T06:50:00.000-04:00

Well, they didn't like my piece I wrote back in May, so they made me take the picture off...You'd have to read the comment. Anyway, I still say stay away from these guys!!!

OfficeMax.Com

2005-07-23T00:09:00.000-04:00

OfficeMax.Com - Free Delivery Order $150 or more online and you can also save $30 by entering the promotional code GCC25YJ0546TS9D0C
Restrictions apply, and it expires 9/30/05

Brickyard

2005-07-23T00:01:00.000-04:00

We finished up our family vacation with a trip to the Indianapolis Speedway - The Brickyard. We went on a tour of the racing museum there and we also went on a track tour. We boarded a tour bus and did a lap around the track, meanwhile taking in all the commentary. We really enjoyed the visit.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

2005-07-21T00:36:00.000-04:00

While on vacation, we visited the Cheeseburge in Paradise restaurant in Indianapolis. The food was outstanding(but not diet friendly) and the service was exceptional. I was surprised at the cost, and in a good way. I recommend going early beacause it gets quite crowded there. I highly recommend this restaurant!

Family Vacation-Part I

2005-07-18T11:04:00.000-04:00

Well, with phase one of our family vacation nearly complete, I feel obligated to give a breif report. Cumberland falls, located in Corbin, Ky is an interesting place to visit. We stayed at the Country Inn and were pleased with the place. The falls were a nice place to visit, but I would think twice about making this a stop for more than a day due to limited things to do. I believe our next phase of our trip will be more exciting!

BradsBlog Movie Review- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

2005-07-17T21:51:00.000-04:00

I took two of my boys to the movies tonight to see this. I must admit I didn't want to go see it to begin with. I was also afraid my younger boy, age three, would be terrified of Willie Wonka. However, I was overall impressed with it. It is more futuristic than the older version. I think it was a good movie, even for young children. Nobody was scared.

10% off Home Depot Coupon

2005-07-17T07:24:00.000-04:00

Click title to go to a 10% off Home Depot coupon. This was on a discussion board I was referred to. This coupon does not expire. Use it as many times as you want!!!

WebMD Weight Loss Clinic

2005-07-15T22:27:00.000-04:00

This last Tuesday I started a new weight loss program on WebMD.com If you are looking to shed a few pounds, check it out. It is not a fad-type diet. It encourages you to eat the same foods you always eat, but stresses portion control. If you follow the link, you can take an online tour.

My Comeback

2005-07-15T22:17:00.000-04:00

Early last month, I decided that this blog was consuming too much of my time. At this time, I am resuming my blogging activities. However, I am going to make it a bit more personal but at the same time, try to keep a lot of my old style. Thanks for reading.

a Scam?

2005-07-15T22:13:00.000-04:00

Well, they finally came through and posted rewards for signing up. I thought it would be for more than $5 web cash. I am extremely leary about this outfit. I definately would not give up any of my personal info or CASH!!

GreenZap - The Future of Money. It's Zappening!!

2005-06-06T09:26:00.000-04:00

There is a new "paypal" out there now, and it's called Greenzap. I am not sure if it is gaining popularity yet, but I signed up today. If anyone joins under This Link, I get a $25 referral reward, so join up!!!

Book Review - The Rescue

2005-06-01T06:54:00.000-04:00

Nicholas Sparks wrote this book and I'd have to give it a thumbs up! While it borderlines as being a "chic flick" book, I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it.

Book Review - Bleachers

2005-05-28T06:15:00.000-04:00

I have always been a John Grisham fan, and enjoyed every one of his book until now. I made it to page 49 then decided that this book does not deserve my time. My wife thought that I didn't give a chance, but then again, she couldn't get all the way through it either. If you're considering this book, I would recommend picking something else.

My Friends, There is More to Life Than Non-Stick Cookware

2005-05-27T06:30:00.000-04:00

For almost all of my adult life, I have owned non-stick cookware. I always thought it was essential. If you didn't use the non-stick stuff, you would be at the sink for hours scrubbing your dinner. Well, several years ago, my brother bought me some stainless steel pots that get used almost daily. They still look relatively new and I don't have much of a problem cleaning them either. More recently, My wife and I decided to replace our large non-stick skillet with a stainless steel one. It cooks very good and surprised to learn that it isn't all that bad to clean. As long as you preheat the skillet and clean it good, it isn't a problem. So, I would recommend paying a few extra dollars and getting a good, non-non-stick skillet. It will probably last many years longer than the regular non-stick kind.

The End is Near

2005-05-26T07:02:00.000-04:00

Rumors are flying everywhere that Iraq's #1 most wanted, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, has taken a gunshot wound to the lung and may have fled to a neighboring country with a couple of doctors. If and when he finally kicks the bucket, I should hope that things will settle down in the country a bit. I haven't been following the news lately, but I first heard about him being treated in an Iraqi hospital last week, and the last few days I have been hearing more and more. I just heard that one of his cronies has stepped in and is filling in for him, so it must be something!

WiFi Hotspots

2005-05-25T07:30:00.000-04:00

I was interested in finding out where wireless hotspots were in my area. You see them on TV, the people sitting around drinking coffee and surfing the internet. Well you can do a search at Hotspot Zone. Check it out!

Product Review-Digital Phone Service

2005-05-24T04:55:00.000-04:00

Recently, I switched my household's telephone service from Cincinnati Bell to Time Warner Digital Phone. I must say, the customer service was great, they took care of everything with Cincinnati Bell, and they came out and hooked up the new equipment when they were scheduled. We got in on a promotional rate and are paying less than we were before and we have unlimited long distance now. The only problems we have ad were on occassion when making a call we get an "all circuits are busy" message. Also on occassion you can hear yourself echo. Overall, I am pleased with it.

DirectBuy

2005-05-23T04:59:00.000-04:00

I’ve seen the infomercials on Sunday morning television for Direct Buy. People claim to save thousands, or tens of thousands of dollars of home furnishings and building supplies. I smelt a scam so I decided to give them a call and check it out. The lady on the phone really could answer none of my questions. In fact all she could do is get all my personal information and arrange for a special appointment to check it out. I gave her false information and cut the phone call a bit short. I could just imagine getting there and having a group of high pressure salesmen trying to strongarm me into buying an expensive membership.

Take This Return and Shove It!

2005-05-22T04:55:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time, I purchased a firescreen for my fireplace a Home Depot. After I got it home and was putting it together, I realized that there were several pieces missing, including the instructions. I decided to return it. At the return counter, I told her that all the other firescreens looked as if they had been opened before and I wanted my money back or a store credit. For some reason, she would not give me a store credit becasue it was a damaged item. My only option was to take a credit to my debit card, which is how I paid for it initially. My problem is, she told me the credit would take place in about a week. So here I am, $200 out of my checking account and no firescreen. I only wonder if this is store policy or if the lady was just being ignorant.

Closed Up Shop

2005-05-21T05:02:00.000-04:00

Well, it's been quite a while since I did any music downloads(freebies). I decided I wanted to get a few songs and after I installed my old faithful P2P downloading software, I found that they had gone to a pay service. I discussed this with a few people I know who are "in the know" about it.I guess what it boils down to, is with everone getting sued, poeple are scared so now I have to go legit. So, I am not quite ready to pay for my music so maybe I should start saving my coke bottle caps and maybe get some freebies that way. It just seems so complicated. Oh Yeah, for legal purposes, I never downloaded anything for free, I was just kidding!!!

Service Update - Allen Concrete

2005-05-20T04:54:00.000-04:00

For those living in Southwest Ohio, I would like to follow up on my previous post regarding Allen Concrete. I had them pour my back patio last week and I was very pleased with the work done. Scott Allen was very professional and kept me very informed on every aspect of the project. He really seemed to help me get what I want, and not what he wanted to sell me. If interested, the numebr is (513)858-6265.

Credit Unions

2005-05-18T21:57:00.000-04:00

Whatever happened to getting good deals and inerest rates because you are a member of a credit union? It seems as though anymore, anyone can become a "member". Also I can get better rates than my credit union at the bank up the street!

Riding the Dead Horse

2005-05-18T07:17:00.000-04:00

I guess the "TV People" think that everyone loves the Rob and Amber power team. Survivor was ok, but I thought it was a bit ridiculous to have them on The Amazing Race, and now they are going to have a big special on their wedding. What a circus. I would expect to see them eating bugs on Fear Factor next season.

Newsweek

2005-05-17T04:52:00.000-04:00

Well it happened again. Like CBS, Newsweek got mud on their face from misreporting that guards at Guantanamo Bay flushed a copy of the Quran down the toilet. This sparked violence in Afghanastan last week. Read their explaination here. Something needs to be done about these news organizations reporting on unnamed sources.

Social Security

2005-05-16T07:48:00.000-04:00

Rep. Robert Wexler, a Democrat from Florida is breaking away from his Democrat allies and introducing his own Social Security reform plan. This is much different than President Bush’s plan, in that it raises taxes (among other things), but it is expected to be welcomed by the Administration because the democrats have refused to put up any alternatives at all. My take on this is, the more people with ideas at the table, the better off we’ll be.

BradsBlog Movie Review-Finding Neverland

2005-05-15T23:52:00.000-04:00

I am not much of a Johnny Depp fan(I think he’s a bit goofy) but he did a great job in this movie. It was a bit slow to get started, but I ended up watching it twice and I highly recommend it.

Case Closed!

2005-05-14T23:21:00.000-04:00

Well it’s been two weeks since the “runaway bride” has been found, and her lies began to unravel. Two weeks, and I’m still reading about it in the news. This morning on CBS News They went into detail her police record, which included a couple of shoplifting charges years ago. They also mention that she is undergoing inpatient care for her wacked out condition. It’s been 2 weeks now, and I still really don’t care. Why is the news still covering this? Is there really nothing else going on in the world?

Urban Legends

2005-05-14T05:11:00.000-04:00

From time to time, I get e-mails telling of an awful crime that is taking place or a new scam that is going around. After I get one of these e-mails, I verify it's authenticity by going to www.snopes.com. This site has a huge databank of just about every internet rumor you have ever heard of. So the next time you are getting ready to forward this crazy tale to everyone on your contacts list, do us all a favor....verify it!

Where Will It End?

2005-05-13T04:51:00.000-04:00

"Pay no attention to the words on the labor contract..."
We saw it in the Steel industry.A certain company goes to bankruptcy court, and finds a judge that will give them the green light to go through with a bankrupcy, even though they may still be turning a profit, mearly to shed legacy costs. Once it was done, many others followed suit, in turn screwing over scores of retirees out of agreed upon benefits. Well, it has hppened again. United Airlines found a judge that will allow them to disregard it's obligations to it's retirees, and not even be in bankruptcy! Now it's just a matter of time before countless other corporations follow suit. The politicians won't touch this one!!

Google Store

2005-05-12T04:53:00.000-04:00

I posted earlier in the month, or last month about wanting to get some Blogger attire. I finally found the Google Store, and I purchased a "Blogger" T-shirt. It cost $10.50 and there was no shipping or tax. It arrived within the week and is quite comfortable. It is not a "thick" shirt, but I think it was well worth it. I would like to find a Khaki "Blogger" hat as well, but have come up empty. I have also added the Google Store to my Blogroll.

Sticker Shock

2005-05-11T05:03:00.000-04:00

Something that really chaps me off is when I am looking at a certain product, whether it be a vehicle, large appliance, or whatever, and cannot find the actual price. Instead they only give their “low monthly payment”. I guess this is supposed to make the item appear to be more affordable before they really stick it to you. I guess if they really posted the actual price you pay, all the Rent-a-Center type places and used car lots would be out of business.

Product Review-Troybilt Chainsaw

2005-05-10T05:09:00.000-04:00

Last month I purchased the 20" Troybilt chainsaw, which I found as I was browsing through my Tool Crib catalog. I ordered it from Amazon.com and received a $25 promotional discount, plus no shipping charges or tax. The sale prce itself was under MSRP so I felt good about the price.(about 205 bucks) After I received it, I was impressed with how easy it started and powerful 49cc engine. I would strongly recommend this chainsaw for anyone in the market.

Video Professor

2005-05-09T09:48:00.000-04:00

I'm sure just about everyne has seen this guy on tv, begging you to let him send you a tutorial for your computer. He claims that he will give it away, for free, and all you have to do is pay about $6 for shipping and "administration costs". What he isn't telling you, is that he will keep sending you more of these training cd's and you will be charged roughly 60 bucks a pop for them. So, if you really want to throw your money away, send your check to me.

Political Correctness

2005-05-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

As I was driving down the highway in a construction zone, I saw a sign just like the one above. I realized that I always see the "Mommy" signs, even more so than the "Daddy" signs. I decided to go for a small trip and I counted the signs. The tally was 2 for the Mommy, and one for Daddy. I think this is ridiculous. It's not that I have a problem with women working on road crews, it's the thought that they feel they need plaster these signs everywhere, even though there normally aren't any women working on the project.

Choose Life Plate

2005-05-07T06:37:00.000-04:00

This License plate is drawing a lawsuit by the ACLU, because the pro-abortion activists just can’t stand it! The version in Ohio is obviously promoting adoption, but not this one. I personally am pro-life, but I must question the political undertones on this plate. Should there be “choose abortion” license plates allowed? Not for me, let’s argue about it!

Gettin' Ready

2005-05-06T07:04:00.000-04:00

I have to wonder how many people are noticing the grooming of Jeb that is going on. If you remember, when then Governor "W" was debating for the presidency, his biggest hurdle was lack of international experience. Recently, Jeb has been involved very deeply with the tsunami disaster and recently been involved with the Pope deal.

This Bugs Me

2005-05-05T06:36:00.000-04:00

"Environmental hazards: This product is extremely toxic to fish. Do not apply to water. Do not contaminate water by disposing of equipment washwaters."

So what's the deal? Another smooth marketing ploy? I guess by calling it "earth options" they are trying to fool consumers into thinking that this is an environmentally friendly product? Come on!

Mystery Shopper

2005-05-04T06:16:00.000-04:00

From time to time I participate in various surveys and test panels. This morning on my way home from work I heard an advertisement on the radio for becoming a mystery shopper. I would get paid to shop and report on different aspects of my shopping experience. So I called the number, 1(800) 299-0405, and I was signing up. The man explained to me that the shopping trips would last between 15 and 30 minutes, and would earn about 10-50 dollars each. After I gave some personal contact information, he went into his spiel. As he was going through his fast talk, he slipped in that there is a $99 annual membership fee. At that point I told him I wasn’t interested. I don’t like the idea of having to pay for membership, since there are no guarantees how many studies I will qualify for. I also didn’t appreciate him implying that I was cheap for not wanting to pay 27 cents a day to be able to do this. If it’s only 27 cents, why charge? This may be a perfectly legitimate deal, but I say, “Shopper Beware”.

The Southern Cross

2005-05-03T06:48:00.000-04:00

Being from Ohio, I am not a southerner so I guess it’s really none of my business. However, I think I’ll chime in on this anyway. After serving ten years in the military, I have known many southerners, and I know how they are proud of their heritage. Southern hospitality and southern food are some of the things they are proud of. A symbol of their heritage is the Confederate flag. While many believe that the confederate flag is a symbol of racism, I strongly disagree. So the movement to eliminate the confederate flag from the modern south, I feel, is a bit extreme. If the desire is there to eliminate any form of the ol’ southern cross from today’s state flags, it should be added to the ballot and voted on. Otherwise, let’s grow up and get over it.

Three Strikes and You're Out

2005-05-02T06:43:00.000-04:00

With all the recent controversy of steroids and baseball players, baseball commissioner Bud Selig is now asking for a 50 game suspension for first time offenders, 100 game suspensions for second offenses and a lifetime ban for third offenses. Personally, I am all for it. I really don’t think the players union will go for it though. Isn’t it also ironic that this year Barry Bonds is too tired, mentally and physically to play? Perhaps he will call it quits before he has to test for steroids and subject himself to being banned from the game.

Better check your receipt!

2005-05-01T07:14:00.000-04:00

A friend of the family recently went to TGI Fridays and purchased a gift card valued at $25, and used her credit card to buy it. Later on, she attempted to use her credit card for another purchase and the card was declined. What happend was, when she bought the gift card, they charged her $2500.00! This is currently all getting worked out now, but this type of thing may be prevented if we check our receipts!

Mercury Rising!!

2005-04-30T06:10:00.000-04:00

Recently on the evening news, there was a scene of breaking news. They were reporting on a mercury spill, and the aerial view from the news helicopter showed hazmat vehicles, men in white body suits, and an evacuation was underway. I was looking for the trainload of mercury that was spilled, but then they broke the devastating news. A standard mercury-filled thermometer had broken and created a world of hooplah!

Opting Out

2005-04-29T18:09:00.000-04:00

Are you tired of unwanted "junk mail" showing up in your mailbox every day? Well I used to be. That was until I was looking over my credit report and at the end of the report, it list the different companies that they had sold my information to. I couldn't believe it! The companies that we hold with our sacred personal credit information, are selling our names, phone numbers and addresses. Chances are, it has happened to you also. You can stop this from happening by opting out. All you need to do is go to https://www.optoutprescreen.com and follow the direction and you will be opted out of all the reporting agencies.

Binky Brats

2005-04-28T14:31:00.000-04:00

What is the first thing you think of when you see and older kid, aged 3 or older, walking around with a pacifier in his/her mouth? What about a blanket? Well, it gets on my nerves. These children are normally misbehaved, and lack discipline. The parents are to blame for these bratty kids. Having three kids of my own, I know all about the binkies and what not. I know how difficult it can be to wean these kids off of their security items,but I would say that it is normally more the parents not wanting to deal with a crying child, than the separation of the child and pacifier.

School Levies

2005-04-27T16:32:00.000-04:00

More and more schools are going to the people asking for more money. They cite the state has cut funding and cannot afford to operate with the current level of funding. I'm sure this is true, the federal government cuts spending, the state government must cut spending, the company I work for has been making drastic cuts as well. As a result, I get paid less and I have to make cuts in my household. It seems to me the only people that don't seem to be making cuts are the schools. My son came home with a list explaining all the drastic cuts that will be made if new levies will not be passed. I am sure there are many cuts the schools can make and make a difference, before they have to eliminate bussing, libraries, sports, etc.

Blogspot Blogs Part II

2005-04-26T21:04:00.000-04:00

As I go from blog to blog, I am finding my self more and more having to go back, then forward again to get to another blog because that person has decided to either remove their button entirely, or put one of those ignorant end hunger banners over it. I really wish the programmers of blogspot would create a search filter so that I don't have to deal with this, as well as all the foreign language, and all the teeny-bop-I love everything-la-de-dah crap.

Amtrack

2005-04-26T19:38:00.000-04:00

Yet another case of government waste. Every year tons of money gets poured into Amtrack. How much exactly? I don't have a clue. I'm sure it's a bunch. I don't know anyone who even rides it. It may have been a good thing 50 years ago, but I think the time to do away with it is now. Let's privatize it!

Give and inch, take a mile

2005-04-25T14:54:00.000-04:00

The feds are looking in to whether or not Martha Stewart violated her house arrest agreement. As far as I know, she is allowed to leave her home for 48 hours a week for work purposes only. Appearantly, she has been going out on the town, as well as attending parties and other social events. I guess she believes that showing her face is considered actual work. Obviously, opinions vary.

I got junk in the trunk!

2005-04-24T17:04:00.000-04:00

Well, my wife had been watching the clearance rack at our local Target store, they had been marking down Memorex karaoke machines. They were normally around $110 and they were down to $83.99 so we went for it. When I got the unit home, we tested it out and the monitor was shot. Several days later, I took it back and got another one. Like the previous one, the box did not appear to have been opened and the unit used, so we got another one. After we got home and tested it, it appeared to work. We planned a fun Karaoke party with our young children and they were really looking forward to it. When we fired it up the next day, the monitor crapped out. We took this one back and decided that we would not go with the Memorex next time around. We went back and all they had were memorex brand machines. We decided the third time might be the charm. We opened the box in the store and plugged it in. (We were beyond caring about making a scene) Guess what, the monitor might have worked but there was an obvious mechanical defect with the monitor tilt mechanism! We went to another store and bought a KaraokeVision and it is nice!

You Decide 2008

2005-04-24T09:03:00.000-04:00

I have set up a new blog site that will be talking about the 2008 Presidential election. I am currently looking for contributors for it. The site is www.youdecide2008.blogspot.com. If you would like to become a contributor(Democrat or Republican), Click Here To Write Me

Why are so many kids fat?

2005-04-23T13:03:00.000-04:00

As I watch the news, and read the newspaper and other online resources, I am hearing more and more about the child obesity epidemic. Many people ask why, but I don't think you need to. Just take a look around. When a child wakes up in the morning, what do they have for breakfast? Are they having the wheat bagel like their parents? Orange Juice? Probably not. In fact, my guess would be they are eating some sort of commercialized candy in a breakfast wrapper. This candy could be in the form of cold cereal or Pop-Tarts or something else of the like. Any more, at school, the children have many choices about what they can have for lunch. I can assure you, they are not eating their vegetables. No, more like pizza. Your child could probably eat pizza every day for lunch and would not raise any red flags. Who is teaching our children about healthy eating? After school, it's snacks. After dinner, dessert. Before bed, snacks. I would encourage everyone to rent and watch the move "Super Size Me!". It is very eye opening about fast foods. Also a good site to visit with your children is http://www.kidshealth.org

Stamps going up again

2005-04-22T22:40:00.000-04:00

It might be about time to throttle up on the stamp buying, because in about a year the Post Office is raising rates again. Word is, probably around two cents. I think it's about time the government got out of the mail business. I have to wonder how much an outfit like UPS would need to charge to send a first class letter?

Free Coupons

2005-04-21T23:14:00.000-04:00

Free Coupons
I went to this Blog site, and they were promoting free $100 gift certificates for participating in a promotion. After giving up my information, I had to complete a survey. I then realized that I have been sucked into this one before, and I got HAMMERED with SPAM. Stay away from this kind of garbage.

PBS

2005-04-21T06:03:00.000-04:00

Yet another government expense we could do without. Granted, they do have a lot of informative programs, most of the "grown up" programs come out of England. I know they take a lot of public contributions, but I think that if the government is funding a big chunk of their programming, it should be American. They even broadcast BBC news. Maybe I'm just ranting, but I think it needs to stop.

Coming soon to a pet store near you!

2005-04-20T14:25:00.000-04:00

I you liked my post FatCats, The you'll really love this one. The animal rights extremists have decided that getting your dog "fixed" is not fair to the animal, and soon you will be able to buy Doggie Condoms. According to the website, one drawback is that the human needs to put it on for them. What will they think of next?!?!?!

2005-04-20T04:51:00.000-04:00

You can now subscribe to my blog! Put in your email address on the right, and you will get a daily overview of updates so you never miss out! I tested this out myself and does not produce any SPAM.

NAMBLA Keeping it clean

2005-04-19T21:36:00.000-04:00

It was reported n the Chicago Tribune that the North American Man Boy Love (NAMBLA), a pro-pedophile group has adopted a portion of Illinois highway. The picture above is a fake, but the story is still under investigation. To me, if it's still unknown if it's true or not, means that it is true. How hard could it be to figure out?

Made in China

2005-04-19T16:06:00.000-04:00

During the Clinton Era, there were several things that seemed to be worth noting(for some). Gays in the military, NAFTA, and opening up trade with China. The first two are good topic ideas for future blogs, but I think opening up trade with China was perhaps the biggest mistake of the Clinton administration. I am not a Clinton basher, and I am sure the intent was good. All those billions of people over there, buying up American goods. That, in part, is how it panned out. The problem is, they are buying up wood and many other raw materials and selling back to us steel and just about anything else you can think of. The average American s not helping matters at all. While we gripe and complain about jobs going overseas, this would not happen if we all bought American made products! So next time you are shopping at Walmart, count the items in your cart that are Made in China.

Death Penalty

2005-04-19T06:03:00.000-04:00

The debate of the death penalty is slowly coming back to life in America. The problem with this debate is that there is a lot of middle ground here. Yes you have a lot of people who are completely against it, and you have those with the "juice 'em" attitude, many are like myself. I believe that the death penalty is appropriate for people like serial killers and those types. I don't think that someone should be put to death after a single incident. This, of course, is up for debate.

Say AHHHHH!!!

2005-04-18T21:42:00.000-04:00

Beginning May 18th, a new law goes into effect in Ohio requiring all felons and probationers to submit an oral DNA swab. Their DNA will be added to a national database. Probationers who refuse the test will be treated as being in violation of probation.

Tire Discounters

2005-04-18T15:04:00.000-04:00

This week I went to Tire Discounters to get a couple of tires. My situation required that I get one tire put on a rim, then return with my vehicle to get the other one done. The guy explained to me that it would take 45 minutes to do an alignment, and advised me of the closing time. When I returned, he informed me I needed a new outer tie rod replaced before the alignment could be done, and that it would take 45 minutes. Long story short, they had everything done in 45 minutes. Why should I be charged for 1 1/2 hours labor?

Bill O'reilly

2005-04-18T05:47:00.000-04:00

Once upon a time I would look forward to watching Bill O'reilly on the Fox News channel. Then as time progreesed, I got tired of hearing him constantly complain about the Mexican border and Jesse Jackson. You can name about five items that he constantly talks about. I don't think he is left or right, but he has struck a nerve with me.

Let him go

2005-04-17T23:53:00.000-04:00

This morning I read in the paper that Pat Tillman's parents were making a big stink about how his death was handled. I really don't want to sound insensitive, but to all the world and media-get over it. Don't get me wrong, I am a veteran and feel badly about any soldier killed in action. What bothers me is all the attention paid to Pat Tillman. Just beause he was a football player makes him no more a hero than any other soldier serving in the armed forces. They have Pat Tillman wristbands, memorials, etc. What about the other 2000 people killed the last couple of years?

She's got a bun in the oven!!

2005-04-17T22:15:00.000-04:00

Well, she finally came out and admitted it. Britney Spears is prego. In a few years I wonder if we will be seeing all the semi nude pictures of her stretch marks and low hanging breasts.

Drill Away!!!!

2005-04-17T05:12:00.000-04:00

This week congress passed legislation that will make it easier for the Bush administration to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge up for drilling for oil. While supporters claim that this is the lions share of oil, and will answer the need to back away from foreign petrolium dependancy, opponents of the issue claim this will have little to no impact on our energy crisis. My guess is that we will end up somewhee in the middle. I would see prices coming down a bit, along with a few choice Texans getting a little bit richer.

Blogspot Blogs

2005-04-16T22:47:00.000-04:00

I really enjoy posting my blogs, researching for my blogs, and occassionally checking out other people's blogs. I normally do this by clicking the "next blog" button in the upper right hand corner. There is a major drawback to this, that would be great if it were to be resolved. I waste a lot of time on blogs that I can't read becasue they are in Spanish, Chinese or some other foreign language. How about we get this fixed?!?!