What A Slacker!

Excel File Hell

Add comment June 20th, 2008

What the hell is wrong with Microsoft? Why in the world would they change the default file type of one of the world’s most used office programs?

Microsoft Excel 2007 (as well as Word and Power Point) now have an XML based file format. The new Excel file extension is .xlsx, which of course cannot be opened with any of the older versions of the program.

Thank god I remembered we had one computer in our office that was new enough to have the latest version of the software on it. (I forgot because I never use the Microsoft Offfice 2007 products because I simply don’t like them.) At first I wasn’t sure that it would even be able to save it as the old version as the company that sent me the file could not figure it out and told me that was the only available file format.

I really hate the new tabbed browsing with in the new office programs and where the heck did they go with the good old fashion text menus?!? They hid them is what they did. I finally figured out how to find their help file (tiny little question mark was eluding me). The text menu where you have the option to choose SAVE AS is now hidden behind the little office logo at the top of the screen on the left-hand side. Who would have thought to look there? Not me. Can you make it any harder folks?

For those of us that do not have access to a brand spanking new version of Excel Microsoft has kindly [insert sarcasm here] created a tool (not sure if this is available for Word or Power Point) for us backward people who cannot upgrade every time they release a new, improved [insert said sarcasm again] version.

You can download this lovely little Excel 2007 to 97-2003 conversion tool at Microsoft.com. Even though it is free it does come with a cost. You will have to install all the updates for your version of windows before installing the converter. Which can take you a few hours, if like me, you are a little behind on your XP updates (who know they were up to XP Service Pack 3, not me).

For those of us with little time there is also an online converter, but this might not be an option if you too have a confidential file you need to convert like I did. However, unlike the Microsoft compatibility pack you do not need to have Microsoft Office installed on your PC to convert the file.

I am pretty sure that if I am going to have to continue to use the newer versions I am going to have to pick up a copy of the book Office 2007 All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies.

Pet Food Fest Being Held in Exton, PA

Add comment June 6th, 2008

Are you looking for something to do on June 14th? Want to win a years supply of pet food? Head to the Pet Food Festival being held by ShopByBreed on the 14th for your chance to win either a years supply of dog food or a years supply of cat food.

Besides this awesome chance to win a great prize you’ll also get to meet and talk with representatives of the best pet food manufacturers out there like Wellness, Innova, Nutro Natural Choice, Nature’s Variety, and Royal Canin. They’ll be on hand to field your questions about the quality of food you feed your bestest-best friends as well as hand out samples. Who doesn’t love free stuff?

Before you go head over to the Nature’s Variety website to get yourself a coupon for a free bag of dry kibble or raw food for your pet. You might as well go prepared, right?

from PetSaverCoupons.com: Pet Food Fest in Exton, PA

Who Gets to Say What is Beautiful

Add comment June 5th, 2008

So you think you are young and beautiful enough to be a model, yet Top Model is not knocking down your door to get to you? Why not try something a little more realistic and much less painful (maybe). LookOfTheYear.com is an online beauty contest that anyone can enter from across the globe. You can win $10,000 or even be spotted by a modeling agency for a chance at a career working in New York, Paris, or Milan. Who judges this beauty contest? The visitors to the site, that’s who. So put your best face on, head to http://www.lookoftheyear.com, and upload your pictures for your shot at fame.

Disney Stars Down the Shore

Add comment June 3rd, 2008

Disney will be rocking the boardwalk in Jersey this summer when the Radio Disney concert hit Wildwood. Guess what? These concerts featuring stars like Raven Symone (That’s So Raven), Mitchel Musso (Hannah Montana) and others will be coming to Morey’s Piers this July.

There will be a free concert every Monday for three weeks ending in a spectacular finale being held at the Wildwoods Convention Center. Tickets for the Wildwood events finale with Raven Symone on July 26th will be on sale through Ticketmaster, the box office and on Morey’s Mariner’s Landing pier during the concerts on July 7, 14, 21.

The free Radio Disney concerts will take place next to the giant ferris wheel on Morey’s Mariner’s Landing pier. Those shows are scheduled for 1pm and 4pm. Parents love that these concerts are free and kids love the Disney stars. It is a match made in heaven (okay, maybe not heaven, just the Disney PR offices).

Here is a list of the free concerts for interested parties:

• July 7 - A Cursive Memory
• July 14 - Jordan Pruitt
• July 21 - Drew Seeley

Morey’s Pier is the place to be this summer for family fun.

Hey, the fun doesn’t stop after the concerts are over. Morey’s Piers is offering season finale ticket holds special deals like ten bucks off admission Morey’s Piers Beachfront new jersey water park or ten dollars off a wrist band good for all three of Morey’s piers, but the best deal is fifteen dollars off the Splash and Ride combo ticket. So if you are looking for things to do in New Jersey head to the Jersey shore this summer for some great music and family entertainment.

Sweetest Contest This Summer is at Cold Stone

Add comment May 31st, 2008

Cold Stone Creamery is holding a delicious contest. Before I get into how cool and wonderful this is let me tell you it is for young adults 13 to 19 (which sucks for me because I would have so been there). Okay, so now you know and if you are between those ages you can do this.

All you have to do is go a Cold Stone Creamery and create your best combination of ingredients. Once you have the ultimate yummy combo name it and head to the internet. Yep take your ice cream to the masses.

Sign up for the Awesome Cold Stone Contest online. Here’s where the fun part comes in get all your friends, both from the real world and the internet, to head to Cold Stone and taste your creation. Once they have given you two thumbs up have them vote online for you and your yummy ice cream concoction. In a competition kind of like those I have seen on the food network your entry will be judged first by the masses then if it passes the public opinion then you get to face the judges at Cold Stone.

I have not even mentioned that you are competing for over $30,000 in prizes! The iMix America contest has already started so get out there and create the ultimate ice cream mashup and get to promoting yourself online you only have until June 5th! Oh, and good luck.

Does Your Blog Have What It Takes

Add comment May 21st, 2008

Do you think you’ve got what it takes to impress the blogosphere? Well then prove it. Write your best post and then head on over to YearBlook.com.

Yearblook.com is a contest to find the best blog posts on the net. Each day a winner will be chosen. All the winners will then be compiled into a big book of blogs. Yes, an actual book will be published. That’s right your work will actually be published in the real world. Go figure.

As a blogger you can go over and submit your own posts or your friends can do it for you. Once you are nominated you’ll want to have all your online friends head over and vote for you.

Fear not you won’t be losing your rights to your own works. If you win they will contact you to work out the licensing for inclusion into the finished book.

Okay, so being in a book isn’t quite enough for you. How’s about money will that satisfy? Each month the winner for top blog that month has a chance to get $100. Not too shabby, huh?

Well there is one more reason to submit your blog. Free advertisement for you. That’s right drive traffic and increase your audience. Really, I am not seeing a negative to being a part of YearBlook.com.

TFAW Hellboy Contest

Add comment May 18th, 2008

I just got a newsletter from Things From Another World they are having a Hellboy Contest and here’s the info…Good Luck!

The world’s greatest paranormal investigator will hit the big screen in Hellboy II: The Golden Army on July 11. The movie will take you from our world into a realm inhabited by elves, trolls and demons.

In celebration of the opening, the grand prize winner of TFAW’s Ultimate Hellboy Contest will receive ten (10) movie tickets to Hellboy II: The Golden Army at their local theatre, a copy of the Hellboy Library Edition Vol. 1, Hellboy: The Companion TPB, Hellboy Lunchbox, Hellboy Movie Photo Coaster Set, and both Hellboy Animated Statues.

One second prize winner will win a copy of the Hellboy Library Edition Vol. 1 and a copy of the Hellboy 2: The Golden Army Movie Prequel Comic, which is signed by Doug Jones (Abe Sapien)!

Ten (10) third place winners will get a subscription to Crooked Man, the new Hellboy mini-series starting in July.

New Site to Meet People: Crush or Flush

Add comment May 17th, 2008

Crush or Flush is a mash up of an online social network (myspace, facebook, etc) and a hook up hotline. An innovative way to meet people that’s for sure. You sign up for Crush or Flush with you cell phone number. You can use the system online or your phone. Simply review profiles and choose crush if you like them and want to hook up via chat or flush if you don’t like them. They never know who flushed them so you don’t have to worry about hurt feelings. It really is as easy as that.

So if you’re into meeting people online crush or Flush might be the site for you. Check them out.

Need More Business Cards Time to Reorder

Add comment May 14th, 2008

Well I have finally given away the last of my business cards. I had some made up last year for my website over at Vista Print. Since they are completely gone now it is time to head back over to their website and reorder some more. The site is so easy to use and you really do get professional quality printing at an amazingly low price. I also had matching magnets made at the same time. I couldn’t have been happier, but I guess that goes without saying since I will be reordering more.

They have tons of special offers, even free merchandise, but I opted to upload my own graphics and then I got a high gloss front, which looked so cool with the black background. I just logged in and reordering couldn’t be easier. They still have my cards on files and all I had to do was hit a button and review my cards. If I hadn’t uploaded the card design as an image I could have edited it during review before finalizing my purchase, which I did not do just yet.

I still have to go back and find my original artwork. They have so other items besides just business cards and magnets. They have invitations, cards, rubber stamps, and promotional items just to name a few.

Speaking of promotions during check out, if your order is over $15, you’ll be offered a free magazine from one of their partners. Well if, like me, you choose to decline the offer be sure to click the link to get a rebate form. Fill that out and you can request rebate for the stated value ($10) of the offer. Not a bad deal.

May the Fourth Be With You - Happy Star Wars Day

Add comment May 4th, 2008

Today, May 4th, is often referred to as Star Wars Day. I just got an email from DeepDiscount.com wishing me a Happy Star Wars Day and it included a link to download a free PDF version of the book Star Wars Legacy of the Force: Betrayal by Aaron Allston. You need to download the book before May 13th.