Fellow blogger AlyCat posted a question asking what movies you watched over and over while growing up that wore out your VCR. Good question. Unfortunately, being a child of the seventies we did not have a VCR. In fact we did not have a VCR until I was almost out of High School and then it was because I bought it! It loaded VHS tapes in the front like the VCRs of today instead of a pop up top like some of the older styles. I’ll bet not too many of you out there remember those. Don’t get me wrong mine wasn’t overly modern as it still had a wired remote.
So my list of watched and rewatched movies while growing up is short as it was really only the films that were aired every year on regular TV like Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz, etc. Once I got the VCR my true tastes in films came out. I repeatedly watch horror and sci-fi movies like Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Aliens, Ghost Busters, Star Wars, ET, etc.
Now that I have onDemand and a DVR I find myself with repeated viewings of even more. Most recently I am stuck in a V for Vendetta phase.
I have used quite a few online shopping cart systems over the past few years like Yahoo, Miva Merchant, osCommerce and even custom programmed shopping carts. Each one has its benefits and its drawbacks. If you are looking for an eCommerce solution I suggest you check them all out but be sure to include AmeriCommerce in your research.
AmeriCommerce’s shopping cart is feature rich and affordable. What I have seen from the example eCommerce sites the software can produce some very attractive and functional online stores. While I cannot yet fully endorse this online store software, I know I will be suggesting this as a possible replacement to my clients who are currently seeking a replacement to their existing Yahoo Merchant Solutions accounts.
Many As Seen On TV items are really just a bunch of crap you don’t need. The Package Shark Pro might be one of those pieces of crap. Not sure where you stand on it. I bought one from Boscov’s they have a small as seen on tv section in their housewares section. By buying it there I get the ability to easily return it if I don’t like the item and no shipping and handling costs either way. Besides when you buy online or from call the 800 number flashed on the TV screen aren’t you really buying two? Cost was $10.
Funny thing is you need the package shark to open the package shark as it comes in one of those solid clam-shell plastic tombs. It is really just a plastic holder for a razor blade with different widths for different package types; clam-shell, CD and DVD. I did not attempt the last two types as I was mostly interested in open my toys when I get them. Well it did not work all that well, nothing I couldn’t do with an exacto blade just a little safer maybe.
I was going to take it back on my way home from work when I actually came across a use for it at work. We had a bunch of defective items that needed to be opened, tested and new batteries put back in if they worked. And you guessed it they were in plastic packages. It really did work out in that application as I was able to open about 50 packages in less than thirty minutes and it would have taken me a lot longer with scissors, which would have hurt my hand to boot.
Only draw back was if the package shark veered of the intended course it was difficult to complete the cut. It also only cuts through one side of the package’s plastic. So if you were hoping to cleanly remove all of the sealed plastic you might as well still use scissors to open it. So while I did return the product, I did get my ten bucks back since it became a work expense.
Unless this sucker pops apart some how there is no way to replace the blade so once it gets dull you will have to shell out for another one.
I signed up for this new service called SocialSpark about a week ago. To some degree it is a cross between MySpace and PayPerPost. You get to meet up with merchants and other bloggers on a more personal level. Signing up is easy and free.
Just know you either have to be using FireFox or MSIE 7 (I hate internet explorer 7) or you won’t be able to access the site at all, which is a big draw back since about 50-60 percent of the folks coming to my sites are still using MSIE 6. I assume you folks are like me and don’t like the way the new internet explorer handles webpages and how Microsoft appears to be pushing us all into redeveloping our previously working websites. Enough about them, back to SocialSpark.
Head on over and sign up. You’ll be able to find opportunities to make money with your posts (like PPP and other services), make new blogging buddies, find ideas and topics for you to write about and one of the best features get and request blog backs. That last one is so important in improving your page ranks that it alone is worth signing up. But I am sure you will find other reasons to stick with them.
While your there stop by whataslacker’s SocialSpark profile and give me some props, request to be my friend or just let me know you posted a blog about my site and I’ll be sure to do the same. I am always looking to increase those links back to my blog.
Catching up on my DVR recorded TV shows this weekend and I spotted some more Star Trek references on a CBS show. Any chance CBS/Paramount moved the new Trek movie date from Xmas 2008 to May 2009 so they could exploit their TV series for additional exposure and try to make Trek more hip? Geek is as good as gold these days you know.
The April 11th episode of NUMB3RS had the following Trekkie conversation.
Megan Reeves : Look at you guys. This is kind of like when Captain Kirk used to beam down and would leave Bones and Chekov in charge.
Dr. Larry Fleinhardt: No actually the chain of command went Commander Spock to Lt. Cmdr. Scott to Lt. Sulu then once during season two it actually went to Assistant Chief Engineer DeSalle.
Or is it simply all us math and/or science geeks must also be sci-fi geeks and vise versa?
As a kid I always wanted an ant farm. I never got one so maybe that is why I think the ant farms of today are really pretty sweet. Heck these ant farms are not just your average ants and dirt sandwiched between two pieces of plexi-glass, oh no! These suckers are high tech.
AntWorks Ant Farm uses a gel instead of dirt. The gel doubles as nutrition for your little insect buddies as well as their home. Boy are those tunnels cool in that gel. Now you can see all the ant activity. There will be no hiding in the dirt for you my little chums.
If the way cool blue gel wasn’t enough for you the base contains an LED light so you can see your bugs in the dark too. Check out the video for just how cool this ant farm really is. This is recommended for age six and above, but I think any responsible ant fan of any age would enjoy this as a gift. [Hint, hint. I think it would be perfect sitting on my desk at work.] Just a heads up the AntWorks Illuminated Ant Farm is a Bring Your Own Ants [BYOA] project so you may have a little hunting and catching to do as well, or you might see if they have live ants available for purchase so you can start the fun right away.
This post was made possible by the fun folks over at Vat 19 purveyors of curiously awsome gifts. They really do offer up a bunch of unique gift ideas for anyone on your shopping list.
