Helping to Find a Good Web Host Rating

Hey there.  I feel good today.  Why?  Because friends consider me a "online veteran."  lol  Not that I've dealt with wars or anything of that sort online, but because I'm in the blogging game and friends and family come in and ask questions about how to get started and how much work is involved to maintain a small following.  Just last weekend I was talking to a cousin that wanted to start their own business and came to me to ask about domains and web hosting. 

I made it pretty simple, I told her that she could start online for free with many free blogging and web design  platforms but I strongly recommend that she go out get her own domain and then look for a good web hosting site.  She needs something cheap and easy and after a quick search, she may end up going with Web Hosting Hub.  Looking their rating, it seems like the perfect fit for someone that's just starting out.  It's seems easy to navigate and it's cheap. 

I know that I'm not an online guru, but I like that people come for me for advice.  It tells me that at least some people think I know something about something.  lol  Later!

The Disney Influence on our Young

Dear Parents,

Jasmine was in a relationship with a dirty, homeless boy named Aladdin.
Snow White lived alone with 7 men.
Pinnochio was a liar.
Robin Hood was a thief.
Peter Pan kidnapped children.
Tarzan walked around without any clothes on.
Ariel abandoned her family for a man.
A stranger kissed Sleeping Beauty and she married him.
Cinderella lied and sneaked out at night to attend a party.

And you wonder why I'm all messed up....  It's not my fault I was raised with Disney characters!

Love, 

Your daughter

The No Deposit Bonus Blog for the Latest Online Casino Codes

Hey there.  My family loves to go to the casinos.  It seems that every other weekend, my aunts, my grandma, my uncles, and several cousins make the 2 hour trip to get to a casino and spend their cash for a few hours of entertainment.  The only negative thing of actually going to a casino is that it's a 2 hour drive from the city and with the price of gas going up, it would be great to get the casino experience without having to spend money to get there.  That's why I've mentioned to my grandmother (she's the one that loves the casino experience) that she should check out some online casinos.

She was reluctant at first but after I explained to her that she's just looking at a screen at a casino just like a computer screen, she decided to give it a shot.  Me, being the savvy online person that I am, started looking online for any casino bonus that I can take advantage of.  Anything that could increase her chances of winning, give out extra spins, or give out credits she can use to play in tournaments.  What we wanted is something with a no deposit bonus so that we can check it out and move on if we didn't like that particular casino, almost as if you were in Vegas.

When we stumbled across the No Deposit Bonus Blog, she was thrilled.  We were able to try one online casinos, using a no deposit code that is easily displayed, to test them out.  Once she decided to try another one, we simply scrolled down to the next casino and their code and we were good to go.  And to make things easier, on the right hand side, the site listed the latest codes entered and categorized all codes.  Very fast and easy.  Just the way we like it.  We must have tried several casinos before settling on one that she felt was best suited for her.  Since the blog is updated frequently, I bookmarked it for so that she can go back to check out the latest codes and continue to play.  And you know what was the best part?  She didn't spend a single dollar!  She didn't even realized that until I mentioned it to her.

Get the casino experience online.  I can't say that's it better than the real thing, but I can say that it will definitely save you money by using bonus codes!  Later!

Are Pro Accounts on Sponsored Tweets a Red Flag for Izea, Inc.?

Hey there.  I'm a big fan of Izea, Inc.  They have opened the doors for me to make some money while blogging and sending out tweets.  I have nothing but sincere thankfulness for them.  With that being said, the fact that they are now offering "pro accounts" on Sponsored Tweets is alarming.  If a monthly fee, you're twitter account will get this neat "pro account" symbol attached to it and will be pushed up the queue, ahead of basic accounts, when advertisers are looking for potential tweeters.  I understand that it's an optional service and it's not necessary, but the fact that they are offering it raises some red flags for me.

First off, I don't see the need for pro accounts.  At least on the outside, Izea is doing wonderfully.  Their many platforms are alive and active within the online community.  It's hard to find an online entity that is not associated with one of the many services that Izea offers.  So the fact that they are trying to squeeze out money for pro accounts tell me that 1) Izea is not doing as well as we think they are or 2) they've turned into a bunch of greedy bastards.  lol  I doubt it's the second one since they've all been more than awesome when I've spoken to them, so I'm more inclined to say it's number 1. Then again, it could be that the company is expanding and is looking for extra income to fund upcoming projects.  I don't know, but I'm not so sure if the pro account thing is the way to go.

I've always looked for Izea to come up with fun and innovative ways to make it easy for average Joes, like myself, to make some money online.  I really don't want to hear that Izea may be having some funding issues.  I'm hoping that my observation is wrong and that they're doing it only as a means to further fund their expansion not because they are strapped for cash.  Especially when you consider the amount of online companies that did not make it.  I hope you guys know what you're doing and the same fate doesn't come down on you.  Later!

Easy Games for Girls Online

Hey there.  I like to think of my family as a gaming family.  I have my genre of games that I enjoy (Bioshock, Final Fantasy, etc.), the boy has his genre (CoD: Black Ops, Left 4 Dead, etc.), the girls have theirs (Kinect Adventures, Dance Masters), and the wife enjoys side scrollers (Super Mario, Super Mario World, and other Mario related games).  lol  But when it comes to going online, the girls are the ones that are a little lost.  They like to play games and while they'll venture off to iCarly.com or Disneychannel.com, more often than not, they'll leave the site no more than 10 minutes later because they couldn't find a game that they enjoyed.  They just can't seem to find many girl games that are easy and fun to play.

While doing a quick search for easy girl games, I came across the site, http://www.easygirlgames.com.  Easy enough.  lol  One of the things that I really wanted to focus on, aside from being kid friendly, is the ease of getting into the game.  One of the things that seemed to irk the older kids is having to sit with my youngest daughter to explain how to play the game.  They wouldn't mind showing her, but since she wasn't too happy with certain games, the older kids would explain up to 6 different games to her.  I wanted to find one that was easy enough for her to understand on her own and I like that that is the case here.
 
I also liked that the fact that games ranged from extremely simple for the younger girls to not so simple for the older girls.  It gave me the impression that both my 5 and 9 year old can play games on the same site.  They even have some light hearted romance games called "kissing games" on there.  I don't know about those, though.  I don't want my young one to get any ideas.  These are definitely geared towards the older girls and come to think of it... I guess I'd rather have my girls play a kissing game as opposed to kissing boys.  *shudder*.  lol

I think girl gamers are cool so I want to encourage my young ladies to play.  I'm not pushing them, of course, and they're free to choose whatever genre of games they would want to play.  I get a special joy of hearing my young say, "You haven't passed Silent Hill yet, dad.  What are you waiting for?", or "Oh, look dad!  Final Fantasy stuff!"  lol  Later!

PSN Hacked

Hey there.  I know that the news of the hacking of the Playstation Network has been out for some time, but it's time to throw my 2 cents in.  I think it's horrible that Sony did not act swiftly to protect the information of their users.  I understand that they're looking into it, I understand that they haven't yet figured it out, what I don't understand is why they would wait well over a week before notifying their users that their private information may have been compromised.  That includes their credit card information!

High profile people have displayed their displeasure with Sony for not sending out a notice right away about the breech in their network.  Instead, they announced that it was "maintenance".  Then the maintenance turned into "network issue".  And now, it turns out that an "unauthorized user" gained access to the network.  Unauthorized user meaning, HACKER!  If they knew from the get go that something was amiss with their network and info could have been stolen, they should have manned up and just let everyone know.

The console wars going on between Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony may have played a part as to why Sony was so hush hush about it.  They don't want the negative publicity coming with a security breech but I think they may have hurt their image more by staying quiet over a serious matter.  Over 50 million users will be affected by this and that's a lot of people to upset.  I think this will be a black on mark on Sony for some time but will most likely recover, the way Microsoft did when they had their Xbox Live snafu.  The console wars are heating up and are fierce among the players.  Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony all have an image to uphold and this incident will not only damage their PR outlook, but may damage the loyalty of their die hard fans, and that's something that will be hard to gain back.  Later!

Taking Care of Yourself

Hey there.  You know, I posted about the Lupus walk that will be going on later this year and started thinking about my health.  I have no idea when was the last time I went to a doctor.  Like, for anything.  I'm pretty proud of my immune system for keeping me healthy, or at least healthy enough to not have major issues.  I haven't had anything but the common cold or flu come my way and aside from that, I'm pretty well off.  However, a cousin of mine mentioned this weekend how he recently purchased some Medicare supplement insurance on the side, just in case.  I've been wondering if maybe I should do the same.

I already have health insurance through my job but my cousin mentioned to me how this third party insurance sent a nurse to his home to get him screened and what not.  I don't ever remembered being screen from my job insurance so it just makes me wonder if now is the time that I should go get checked out.  The last thing I need is to be the popular stone on FindAGraveMaker.com.  lol  In all seriousness, I guess I should take a second look at my health and start taking that extra step to keep myself healthy.  Later!

The 5th Annual Walk for Lupus

5th Annual Walk for Lupus Now!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Los Angeles
Walk for Lupus Now

Hey there.  Help spread the word on the 5th annual Walk for Lupus!  The mother of a friend of mine suffers from Lupus and my friend has started her own fund raising team, Team Nancy, to walk and raise money for lupus research.  Let's help Team Nancy reach their humble goal of $100!  You can donate anywhere from $1 to infinity to help their cause and if you want to register to walk, or start your own team, you can find all the information here.  Thank for the donations, friends.  Every little bit helps!

Help Find the Perfect Teacher for your Child

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kidzmet for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.  One of my fondest memories of being in elementary school was when I felt that my teacher "gets me".  I was a nerdy child, loved to read, kept to himself, and could say that I was a slightly distant from the other kids, but my teacher understood me.  She knew exactly what to say, what to do, and how to get me to interact and to push myself to get the best grades possible and I will never forget that.  I know now that if I was paired with a different teacher at that time, I may not have been as successful or I would have been in store for some very frustrating years.  That one teacher made a huge difference in my life and I was very fortunate to be a part of her class.  Now wouldn't you want your child to be paired with a teacher that "gets him/her"?  Based on my experience, I definitely would.  This is why I'm encouraging everyone check out Kidzmet.

Kidzmet helps you create a pairing portrait that you would be able to provide to your school's principal.  The pairing portrait will have your child's intelligence strengths, their personality, their cognitive style and their recommended teaching approach.  This is one extremely helpful tool to help pair your child to a teacher that excels in your child's strengths and learning style.  What parent would not want their child to be taught by a teacher that will "get it"? 

It's free, it's easy and if you're a parent, you should definitely check this out.  This short questionnaire could revolutionize the way schools select students for teachers.  10 minutes is all you need to help ensure that your child will succeed.  Check out a sample of the questionnaire here and a sample of the pairing portrait here.  10 minutes for your child now could save them hours of frustration later.  Later!

Hiking in Escondido Falls

Hey there.  I've been meaning to post about our hiking trip to Escondido Falls for about 2 weeks now.  I've been caught up so many projects and family stuff that I just haven't had the time.  This is why I'm posting on a Saturday.  lol  It's been a long while since I've done some Saturday work.  Anyways let me tell you about our trip.

I've been wanting to take the family out to some sort of outdoor activity.  Living in Sourthern California definitely has it's perks when trying to decide something like that.  There's the beach, hiking trails, camping spots, mountain climbing, and many others and I wanted to do something that I, myself, haven't done.  Believe it or not, I've never been hiking so I decided that we're going to look for a trail and go for it.  That's when I hear about Escondido Falls and it's waterfall.  Whoa... a waterfall.  From what I read online, the trail itself is not that bad and is relatively easy to walk through and when you get to the end of it, there's a waterfall to bestow upon.  I thought it would be perfect to take the kids and check it out.

The trail was difficult to find.  The parking space for the trail is small space and it's right off the famous pacific coast highway.  The problem is that there is no sign that says, "trail this way" or anything of that sort so as you're driving, you're swiveling your head keeping an eye out for a sign showing you the way.  Naturally, we missed the entrance, and on our second pass, we see it.  We parked on the gravel and walked towards the trail.  It's weird at first because you are walking near a residential area so there are houses around you.  Once you go further into that residential community, the trail begins.

No guys, the houses are not part of the trail!

 The trail is simple enough and there is nothing too difficult to overcome.  There were a few small creeks that you get to jump and walk over so that was pretty cool and after about a 3 mile hike or so, you reach the waterfall.  The kids loved it.  We gazed at it for a bit and took some pictures.  It would have been great to take some lunch and have a picnic there.  The scenery would have been perfect.

Jump!

You're gonna fall!!!  Oh wait... you already did!  D'oh!

Mr. Cool Guy over here makes it look easy.

Look ma!  We made it to the waterfall!

Time for our hero pose!

The wife and I enjoying our hike.

Shortly after, the boy and I decided to climb a litter higher to check out the top of the falls.  That hike is for more adventure seekers and is a difficult climb.  After using a rope to get up a steep uphill trail and walked around a small narrow cliff edge like path, we managed to reach the second waterfall.  Not too shabby, but there's more climbing to do.  The third waterfall blew the first 2 away.  It was definitely worth the climb.  The whole area was misty because of the force that the water was hitting the small pond.  It was simply breath taking.

The Rocky theme song would have made this moment perfect!

We did it dad, we did it!

All in all, an awesome time.  If you're in the Southern California area, I highly recommend the hike.  Again, the main trail itself is not a difficult hike so it's not a strenuous walk, but to reach the other waterfalls near the end is definitely more difficult.  Only the boy and I went up since I didn't think he ladies would have been able to do it.  Well, let me rephrase, I think they would have been able to do it if they took their time, but because there's a lot of hikers going up and down and you literally have to stand in line or move out of their way, the chances of slipping and falling rise.

I also wanted to bring this picture to your attention.  Can somebody tell me what that thing in the sky is?

Is that a UFO?!?!?!

We didn't notice that thing when we first took the picture and my wife claims that it's a bird.  I don't know...  I think it's a UFO.  She just doesn't believe.  lol  In my opinion, it seems to far away to be a bird.  There would be more clarity to the "bird" if it was close by but it's pretty damn fuzzy, which tells me that it's off in the distance.  What do you think?  Later!

What's in a Watch?

Hey there.  You know, we recently had to pick up a few gifts for a birthday party for an adult.  Do you know how hard it is to get something that is practical for an adult?  We try to stay away from socks and shirts since I feel like that's something that is commonly given when the person giving the gift has no idea what to get. This is why I believe that a watch is the perfect gift.

Now, I know that everything is digital now a days and that time can be displayed on a cell phone, but having a watch on not only can be seen as an accessory, but also as a classy yet humble move. It can show that you don't rely on high tech devices and it can show that you respect the history of the watch.  It's a great gift for both women and men.  I started to check out a few watches to see which would best suit the receiver.  I would need a sporty, rugged watch and the Tritium seem to be perfect. 

The next time you're in the market for a gift, don't overlook timeless appeal of a watch.  You'd be surprise how much they would like it.  Later!

Many Uses for Duct Tape

I don't believe in many things... but I do believe in duct tape!

A Review of InkGrabber.com

Hey there.  You know, it's kind of tough to find quality printer ink without paying a lot of money for it.  This is one of the reasons why I've been out of a printer for so long.  I simply refused to pay so much money for ink.  But you know what... I have realized that I need a printer.  Especially now that my oldest son is in JR High and there will be a need to print out reports and essays.  So I'm on a mission to check out websites that sell printer ink to see where I can find the lowest price.  I'm not looking for cheap ink, I'm looking for ink that's cheap.  First stop:  InkGrabber.com

Right off the bat, I'm liking this site.  They have a listing of ink by brand on the left hand side while showcasing major brands right in the middle.  And to make it even better, they proudly display a coupon code on the right hand side to save me money on printer ink.  If a store is willing to give discounts right off the bat, I'm  definitely interested.  Upon clicking on a brand, a whole slew of printer models come up.  If they don't have what you're looking for, I'd be extremely surprised.  They seem to have a vast array of inkjet cartridges available for all kinds of printers.  That is a huge plus.  I distinctly remember having to buy ink cartridges at a store for my mother's printer and it was hit or miss on whether or not the store carried it. 

After browsing around, I like how the site is organized.  You can clearly point and click on what you need and most importantly, the prices are more than fair.  And again, they offer discounts, not only through their ongoing promotions, but through Facebook as well.  Ordering is fairly simple and I like that there's a toll free number to call if you need assistance or looking for an update on your order.  All in all, a very decent online store for ink.  I definitely recommend you guys check it out for all your printing needs.  Later!

The Green Latern Arrives in the Metallman Home

Hey there friends.  How awesome is it that I was chosen to participate in this great promotion!  I arrived one day from work only to find these 2 great toys waiting for me:

How awesome is that?! That is the Green Lantern Colossal Cannon and Kilowog!  The boys were definitely thrilled with receiving new toys.  They started playing with them immediately and that's when I knew that this is definitely a toy that they would bond over.

The Colossal Cannon definitely got more attention that the Kilowog action figure.  Even the though the action figure came with it's own Green Lantern Power Ring, it couldn't convince the kids to drop the cannon to play with it.  lol  The only problem that I had with Kilowog is that when you attach his green, glowing attachment to his arm, and raise it, there was no way for his to stand on his own.  That was a huge downer since it made him seem weak in the heat of "battle".  lol  My young one would use him to fight with his other action figures and by him standing without his power made him an easy target for defeat, or so he said.  

My boy:  "Dad, it sucks that Kilowog can't stand with his green power thing.  If he's the Green Lantern and can make anything with that ring, maybe he should have made a cane to keep him up."

Kids...  lol  Once we figured out that he can stand with the attachment if we keep his arms down, the kids started to line him and others up for target practice.  The Colossal Cannon is a great toy.  At first glance, I thought that it would be a projectile shooting gun with the potential to hurt people.  Thankfully, the discs that the cannon shoots seem to glide though the air as opposed to being blasted out.  That is a huge plus!  The gliding motion minimizes risk of injury and the cannon has enough power to send the discs a good 15 feet or so.  The discs are made of plastic but are not heavy at all.  As my oldest son practicing his shot, my youngest son would run around picking up the discs.  I even caught my youngest daughter taking aim at Kilowog!

Kilowog the action figure is just that, an action figure and would be a great addition to a child's army of heroes.  The Green Lantern Colossal Cannon is an awesome toy that will bring much fun and excitement to kids.  I greatly recommend you guys check them out!  To find out more about these and other great Mattel toys, head on over to Mattel.com For more information.  Thank you, Dad Central Consulting, for the opportunity!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Dad Central Consulting on behalf of Mattel and received Green Lantern toys to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Being Smart About Credit Cards

Hey there. If you have a TV or a radio then you've heard many commercials to help build or repair your credit. Many of us have struggled with credit card debt. Especially when many of us were forced to use credit cards during the recession.  I'm not saying that we shouldn't use them, I'm just saying that we should be a little more smart about it.

One great way to know whether or not a credit card is a good one is to check out some credit card reviews.  This is an effective way to read up and get comfortable with the credit card.  Are consumers happy with the service?  Are the rates too high?  No grace periods?  Low balance?  Reward points?  You can get all of that answered by reading a few reviews and see if consumers are happy.  Happy customers usually means that it's a fair card.

Another thing you can do is check out the finance boards.  This is most effective when you do not have a particular card in mind.  The finance boards can have a wide range of topics and it can be overwhelming at first, but after reading a few topics, you'll be able to narrow your search and find what you're looking for.  Especially when many customers can pitch in and provide their 2 cents on a credit card that they own. 

Chase credit cards, Citi credit cards, any credit cards.  If you do a little homework before you apply, you are more than likely to know whether or not you really can afford to have a credit card.  Interest rates, grace periods, and whether or not they have reward points may play a factor in your decision but always remember that in the end, the debt will need to be paid and all the points in the world cannot pay it off.  Stay smart and good luck!  Later!

Motivational Monday - Stress Relief

Extremely handy!

April 2011 Give-a-way: Plants Vs. Zombies (Xbox 360)

Hey there friends.  Here is the item up for grabs: 

How do you win this awesome game for the Xbox360?  Here are the rules:

Open to US and Canadian friends only.  Give-a-way will run from the 15th of the month until the end of the month.  The winner will be announced shortly after the give-a-way ends.

Earn entries by:

Comment on the post of the giveaway (+1 entry)
Share on Facebook (+3 entries)
Share on Twitter (+3 entries)
Share on Google Buzz (+3 entries)
Subscribe to my feed (+5 entries)

For those of you that gain additional entries by sharing or subscribing, you only need to leave 1 comment for each.  I will keep tabs of the additional entries on a spread sheet so there is no need to leave 5 comments for subscribing or 3 comments for sharing.  

PLANTS Vs. ZOMBIES!!!  This popular game is now available on Xbox 360.  This awesome version also includes 2 bonus games: Peggle and Zuma.  3 games in one give a way!  Get your entries in today and score your free copy of this game!  Good luck!  Later!

I Think I'm Ready to Branch Out

Hey there.  I picked up the game for the monthly give a way last night (which will be posted shortly!) and my son was pretty excited about the game that I'm giving away.  He was hoping that it was for us to keep until I told him that it wasn't.  That's when he decided that he was going to enter the contest himself in order to win it for himself.  lol  After I explained to him that he can't win cause he lives in our house, he went on to say that he's going to get his friends to enter so that if they win, he can play the game there.  lol  Kids.  I told him to go for it, and that's when it hit me...  His friends love games and I like to give stuff away so I think I'm going to get some personalized pens to give out.  It would be awesome to have small tokens to give out that will have the Metallman name on it.  I think something like this would be awesome.  It matches my logo colors and it looks pretty cool.

It's been a long time coming.  I want to have t shirts made too, but I still need a logo.  Something a little more modern and something a little more catchy.  I'm still in the market for a good one so if you know anyone that can create one for me, send em my way.  Once I get that done, I was thinking of making some custom envelopes so especially made for the winners of the monthly give a ways.  It would be awesome to be able to send out prizes with style.  I was able to find good prices at Amsterdam Printing so I'm thinking of going with that.

What are your experiences in having your name out there in real world?  Did you provide pens, pencils, business cards, etc. etc.?  I would love to get the name out there but I know it would be foolish to do something grand without a grand following.  What do you think?  Suggestions are definitely welcomed.  Thanks!

Motivational Monday - Slacking Off

Substitute days apply to all, not just students!

Axis of Awesome: 4 Chord Song

Hey there.  This musical comedy act was recently a part of the annual April Foolishness comedy show that is presented by the local radio station, KROQ.  They had these guys on their show to do a part of their act and these guys are simply hilarious!  Check out this bit from one of their shows.  Funny, funny stuff!!!!  Enjoy!

Exercise AND Diet???

Hey there.  As most of you know, I've been hitting the gym.  Oh yeah!  I keep tabs of the circumference of the my arms, chest, and waist.  So far, I've both arms and chest increase and a slight decrease in my waist.  So here's the question:  Why do I weigh the same?  I've been hovering around 170 since I started this mission and as of yesterday, I'm at 172 lbs.  What gives? 

I tell myself that because there is increase in muscle (or so I hope there is), I'll be heavier as opposed to having fat.  Hmmmm...  I don't know if that's true, but that's what I'm sticking too.  The fact that I'm working out and eating cupcakes/donuts/twinkies/chocolate/candy/meals at midnight would have NOTHING to do with my not losing weight... right?! Fine... I guess that would have something to do with it, huh.  So I've come to the conclusion, exercise is awesome.  Exercise with less crap intake, probably even better.

I don't like using the word diet.  My wife seems to always be on a diet and I don't like how she repels certain foods.  I just can't do that.  I've told many people that "men don't diet".  They simply eat less of what they want.  So instead of having those calorie filled midnight snacks, I'll limit it to only one cupcake or maybe even a healthier choice like a milkshake.  lmao!  I know.  I know...  I'm helpless.  lol  Well, I'm going to incorporate this new tactic and see if I'll lose some weight.  I think I've set a new goal of 160 lbs for me.  Maybe I'll stick around at the 170 lbs range but only if I don't look like a chubby.  lol  Wish me luck!  Later!

The Abhancer

Man.. I feel like an idiot for spending all that time at the gym!

I Need a Vacation!

Hey there.  I need to get out of the office for a few days.  Recently, I've felt like a slave to the desk.  Files upon files are beginning to pile up and I swear that if I wanted to, I could build a fort with them.  lol  I'll only need to gut it out for a week or so more since I'll be getting my vacation (or time off) starting on April 18th!!!  Don't think I'll be heading anywhere, but it sure will be nice to not worry about the office politics and what not.  I've already told myself that come next vacation time, I'll be taking 2 weeks and we'll be heading off to some foreign country.  Maybe someplace in Europe, like Germany and feast my eyes on the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

I've never traveled to a place where I don't know the language so I've been advised that it would be wise to get some important documents, like your passport and birth certificate, translated to the countries language.  This way, if you're in a bind, you'll have documents that local officials and offices can easily read.  There are many translation services online and on mobile devices, but they won't provide you with a printed translation.  It's almost a necessity to have all your document translation in tow before heading out to new lands. 

I think I'm ready to venture to a foreign land and explore it's culture and beauty.  I've even gone on and tried to learn some German.  It's not as easy as I would have hoped but as long as I know some of the basics, I should be alright.  Guten Tag!  Guten Morgen! Übersetzungsdienst! (That's translation services in German  lol!!!)  You gotta be well prepared my friends.  Later!

Metallman's Reverie: Blog Income for March 2011

Hey there.  March is in the the books and it's time to report on how well on (or off) pace we are in reaching my $1700 goal for the year. Let's take a look at the numbers:

Mylikes - $13.14
DragonBlogger - $13.96
Sponsored Tweets - $23.00
Blogsvertise - $97.50
Total for March - $147.60
YTD Total - $499.62 (+$74.62 ahead of pace)

Not too bad, right?  I managed to make a little more than my estimated monthly average of $141.66.  That increased my YTD total to stay on course to exceed my $1700 goal for the year.  Blogsvertise continues to be my bread and butter and it may finally take Izea's spot as my top sponsor.  I am still getting offers from Izea, but I haven't hit the cashout mark just yet.  Also, I am happy that I have earned a few bucks from my articles on DragonBlogger.com but am disappointed that I missed the 4 article quota (yet again) for the month to earn a percentage of the income that is earned from the site. 

Overall, another solid month for Metallman's Reverie.  YES!  It is possible to make money online!  It's not easy, but it's definitely possible.  And because I've been able to be semi-successful at blogging, I started a monthly give a way.  I just shipped out the first prize today and stay tuned for April's prize.  Also, I'm thinking of revamping my logo/avatar.  Maybe modernize it a bit.  If you guys know anyone that is willing to make a new Metallman logo for me, send them my way.  I'm willing to pay cash or free advertising (maybe both?) depending on the quality of the design.  Thanks friends for all your support!  If you are blogger and looking to make a few bucks, check out my links above and check it out for yourselves.  Tell them that Metallman sent ya!  Later!

Looking for Scrubs with Friends

Hey there.  You know, I have a few friends in that are nurses and I recently asked them as to why the scrubs tend to be burgundy or light blue.  It's almost as if it's a uniform code that many of us don't know of.  The answer between my friends was pretty unanimous in that it's because it's the easiest to find.  I figured that if color and pattern was not mandatory and you had choices, I'd go and rock out something with skulls!  But then I realized that if I'm working with sick people, skulls would be the last thing they would want to see.  lol I don't think they'll be very good for morale.

Anyways, finding discounted scrubs is not very hard.  Especially once I directed my friends over to Blue Sky Scrubs.  I mentioned to them how they seem to have an awesome selection.  Whether you're looking for cotton scrubs or more fancier scrubs, they seem to have them in stock.  My friend seemed to enjoy the fact that they also have medical lab coats.  After reminding him that he's just a nurse, he says, "It's not for work.  It's for 'extra curricular activities."  lmao!  Whoa, whatever fantasies he has should stay in where they are.  lol 

So a day looking for scrubs turned into a fun time for us all.  Who knew that looking for work attire can be entertaining.  Later!

Motivational Monday - Women

Dammit Zoey!  You're being desperate!  If he's not dead, he WILL call you.

Motivational Monday - Odds

Whoa... that just happened

Awesome Swimwear for Summer

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Express for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.  Summer is a few months away!  And for us that are in Southern California, it already feels like summer when we're having 89 degree temperatures!  The wife and I have been working on shaping up and toning up so that we can look in our summer attire.  Don't get me wrong, we're not bad looking people, at least I don't think we are, but we're shooting for respectable beach bodies.  lol  We've looked into men's swimwear and women's swimwear so that we can get an idea of what we would like to wear when we get our beach wear and I think we're really going to go with Express for our swim wear needs.

Express.com has some pretty awesome swimwear.  The wife loves the leopard print and I'm sure she would want something similar to the one I'm displaying.  And since I signed up and started receiving Express e-mail, I can get this and other great swim suits at 15% off.  Who doesn't like to save a few bucks?  Also, by signing up, you'll be entered for a chance to win 1 of 10 $200 Express GiftCards.  You can check out the sweepstakes rules for all the details.

The wife and I can't wait.  She's proud that she'll be able finally get some clothes for summer and I'm happy that I don't look like a stick figure.  lol  We'll make sure to send pictures when we're cruising down Hermosa Beach in our stylish swim suits from Express.com  lol 

Here's a quick recap of what yuo can find at Express.com:

• Outfits are available in our always-popular monokini, sexiest string bikini and must-have strapless and halter bikini styles.
• Designer details include flirty ruffles, sexy self-tie sides, glam beaded embellishments and polished metal hardware.
• Swim shorts available for men.
• Shop bright solids, on-trend graphic prints, the essential reversible style, nautical-inspired striped and sleek metallic styles.
• Sign up for Express e-mail for a chance to win one of ten $200 Express GiftCards

There you have it, friends.  Check out Express.com today, get your 15% off coupon, and enter for a chance to win a $200 giftcard.  It's a monumental win all around.  Best of luck!  Later!

Xbox 360 Repair Tech in Training

Just like my dad!

Hey there. I wanted to post this picture because I think it's awesome. lol  I haven't really had the chance to work on some Xboxes that need some repair.  They all have the 3 Red Rings and considering that I've had some moderate success in repairing them, I told my cuz I'd give it a go.  While I was cleaning the CPU and GPU chips on one of the machines, I got out of the chair to get a drink.  That's when I see my youngest boy on the chair, ready and eager to get to it.  lol  That's when I snapped the pic above.  My wife told me last night that our son grabbed his tools (toys) and placed them on top of the computer as if he was gearing up ready to work on it, just like his pops.  lol  That young one sure is something else. 

As for the Xboxes, I managed to get 1 of the 3 working.  I played some games on it and watched a DVD to make sure that it wouldn't over heat and it worked just fine.  I pieced it back together and it's ready to go back to the owner.  When I was about to work on Xbox #2, I decided to check the error code before digging in.  I find that it has error 0003, from what I've been told, may not be repairable due to a bad GPU or bad solder connections around the GPU.  I don't have the tools or the know how to even comprehend the problem, but I decided to remove the X-clamps and readjust the heat sinks.  Still no dice.  It has the same error code and considering that I'm not 100% what's wrong with it, I won't mess with it any more without the consent of the owner.  Xbox #3 will have to wait til tonight.  I haven't checked the code on it or anything but I'm confident that I'll be able to get it working.

I also picked up the Kinect for the Xbox not too long ago and I must say that it's pretty awesome.  We picked it up with Kinect Adventures and even though the games are simple enough, doing the "Adventure" really makes you move and gets you sweating.  Speaking of moves, we also picked up Zumba Fitness and even though I'm a terrible dancer, it's fun to try and do the dance moves.  lmao  I guess I'll need to do the tutorials on that one because trust me, I have no rhythm.  I'm surprised that the wife has not leaked the footage of me trying on youtube.  lol  Using the Kinect is definitely a work out on it's own and if you guys haven't had a chance to try it, you definitely should.  Until then, later!

March 2011Give-a-way: Marvel Super Hero Squad (Wii) Winner!

Hey there friends. We have 55 friends that all want this game and they registered over 161 entries.  Thank you contest gods!  lol  I created a spread sheet to keep tabs of everyone who entered and how many entries they received.  Here's a small snippet of that:

I then jumbled the names of the entrants to randomize the selection process.  I will use random.org to select a number for me and that number will represent the winner.  So here goes! And our winner is number...

which is...

PAUILINE15!!!! You are our winner!  Congrats!!!  I will be contacting you shortly to get all the necessary info so that I can ship you your new game.  Thank you all for entering and a special thank you to Alison for helping promote the give a way.  Please make sure to check out her site, Being Alison, to take a look at all the good stuff that she is giving away.  Many thanks friends and hope you guys stick around for the April contest which will be revealed on April 15th!  Later!