Posted on November 20, 2009 01:09 PM
Our iPhone development team is responsible for some great apps in the iTunes app store. iVote Mobile was in the first batch of 500 apps that were released in the app store when it first went live in Summer of 2008. Last holiday season, iFart took the world by storm. It has gone on to become one of the most frequently mentioned iPhone apps in the world. Our team was among the first to develop... Continue Reading
Posted on November 19, 2009 08:05 AM
I'm a computer and video gamer from waaaay back. I remember when Pong came out. I owned a Fairchild Channel 1 video game system. That came out just before the Atari 2600 for you video game buffs. I played games on my TRS-80 model 1 computer in 1979. From adventure games and first person shooters to strategy and massively multiplayer online games, I've been there and done that. Computer and video games have a way... Continue Reading
Posted on November 17, 2009 07:25 AM
In the fifteen years I've been doing business online, I've done just about everything. In the beginning, it was all about content sites. My first domain, WorldVillage.com, is still online. In fact, it's getting a facelift soon. I started adding games to the site and soon launched ClassicGames.com. The site was acquired by Yahoo! in 1998. As I became enamored with saving money online, I decided to build my own bargain-hunter site in 1999. DealofDay.com... Continue Reading
Posted on November 16, 2009 08:52 AM
Nearly one year after the release of iFart, the app continues to sell like clockwork.
I believe that iFart is also the most-referenced app in iPhone history.
It seems like every week one media outlet or another is referring to it.
A Google search for iFart now turns up 106,000 results. Continue Reading
Posted on November 8, 2009 09:29 PM
I have a confession to make.
I am a packrat.
It's not like when I die they are going to find stacks of National Geographic magazines in my house, but I do have a tendency to hold on to stuff that I think is cool.
My old software collection always blows away people who visit my home. Perhaps I'll make a video of that someday. Continue Reading
Posted on October 28, 2009 07:36 AM
Hardly a day goes by that I don't hear about a new Twitter app, web tool or other utility created to make the use of Twitter easier or more interesting. It's pretty hard to keep up with them. And it's pretty rare that I endorse a tool or app. Just as I wait to see new sites pick up steam before jumping on board, I usually don't start using new tools until they demonstrate widespread... Continue Reading
Posted on October 27, 2009 03:15 PM
Some of you may know that I own one of the web's oldest and most popular deal sites, DealofDay.com
I've watched the growth of online shopping and deal sites over the years and trust me... it's not slowing down.
That's why I was intrigued by the launch of The Blastoff Network recently. It's a cashback shopping portal which also pays you on the purchases of those in your network. Continue Reading
Posted on October 13, 2009 09:34 AM
In the beginning there were blogs.
And yea, God saw that they were good.
After all, what a fantastic way for anyone to become an online publisher.
Sure, the word "blog" doesn't roll off the tongue. It sounds more like you are about to upchuck yesterday's hot dog.
But being short for "web log", it does work in a "oh well I guess it will do" kind of way. Continue Reading
Posted on September 25, 2009 08:21 AM
Alright, so maybe it wasn't the legal dispute of the century. But you've got to admit, for two little iPhone flatulence apps, we sure did make a stink! As you may recall, the fun and games began when Air-O-Matic, the creators of Pull My Finger, contacted me with a demand for $50,000. Why? They claimed that my use of the phrase "pull my finger" in a small portion of our online marketing campaign was responsible... Continue Reading
Posted on July 7, 2009 08:00 AM
What do users really want?
It's a question that publishers ask themselves all the time. We look at the comments our articles receive. We review our stats. We check the popularity of keywords. We ask for ideas on Twitter. And we do all sorts of other things that try to second-guess what's going through our users' minds so that we can deliver content that interests them most.
But maybe we're asking the wrong question.
Continue Reading
Posted on June 25, 2009 06:13 PM
Apart from Twitter's own terms of service which prohibit obvious things like harassment, transmitting viruses and spamming other members, there really aren't many rules to the site. You can essentially use Twitter however you like. However, for people and businesses who want to use Twitter successfully (eg: build a following and grow their circle of influence), there are a number of best practices that can be observed. I cover many of these in my book... Continue Reading
Posted on June 21, 2009 08:00 AM
Have you ever asked a child what they want for Christmas? They'll tell you exactly what they want, describe it in glorious detail, even point it out to you in the store so that you don't make a mistake and come home with the wrong version. Then on Christmas morning you get to see their eyes light up as they open the wrapping. It's a thrill... until New Year's Day when the toy is lying... Continue Reading
Posted on May 22, 2009 08:00 AM
I'm scared of change.
There, I said it. It's not big news though. Everyone is scared of change. Change is a scary thing. It means giving up what you have now for something better that you can only hope you'll have in the future.
It's risky. It's dangerous. It's disruptive.
It's also thrilling, exciting... and inevitable.
Continue Reading
Posted on April 16, 2009 01:10 PM
Twitter has experienced massive growth in the past year, with the number of people signing up each month accelerating. It has also become the media darling of the day. It seems that everyone is Twittering. However, with only 10-12 million people on the site, its clear that everyone is NOT Twittering. Don't fret. They will be soon. So where is the media paying the most attention to Twitter? You guessed it. It's all about the... Continue Reading
Posted on April 8, 2009 08:00 AM
I like to think I've come a long way since I first started turning The Dallas/Fort Worth Software Review into WorldVillage.com. I now have a string of profitable websites. I speak regularly at conferences across the country. I've produced a top-selling iPhone app. And I've written a bunch of books, including a New York Times bestseller. But I know I didn't do any of this alone. Not only did I always have the support of... Continue Reading
Posted on March 24, 2009 08:00 AM
When I went to my first Internet marketing conference I had a huge surprise.
It wasn't the amount of information that I picked up sitting in the audience.
And it wasn't the fascinating conversations I had sitting in the restaurants and the hotel bar in the evening.
It was the fact that people knew me.
Continue Reading
Posted on February 14, 2009 08:00 AM
I get asked for joint ventures all the time. A day doesn't go by without some message landing in my mailbox from someone saying they've got a killer product and that I should tell my entire list about it. And each of those days ends with just about all of those emails landing in my trash box. Yes, some products I'll be happy to recommend to people who are trying to build Internet businesses. Usually... Continue Reading
Posted on January 11, 2009 01:53 AM
As of this writing, There are over 13,000 applications in the iTunes app store. There are games, utilities, novelty apps, lifestyle apps, social networking, weather and several other categories. New apps are appearing every day. Some apps are original, but many are just more of the same. That's why I am excited to announce an entirely new genre of apps. Several months ago I and my team were considering ways to deliver our content to... Continue Reading
Posted on December 18, 2008 11:04 AM
Since the iTunes App store launched, many developers have been wondering exactly how app store rank relates to actual sales. I haven't seen anyone release this data as of yet, and while mine is incomplete, it can give you a glimpse into how ranking translates to units sold.
Our application, iFart Mobile (app store link) , was finally released last week, alongside other novelty apps that had been rejected or placed "in review."
Continue Reading
Posted on December 11, 2008 09:31 AM
You never know what web 2.0 site is going to take off like crazy. Just yesterday I found a new awards site intended to highlight the best of Twitter, called The Shorty Awards. As the site says, "The Shorty Awards honor the world's top Twitterers." I have been nominated for a Shorty Award in the #business category. If I have helped you in any way, please consider seconding the nomination for me! It's easy to... Continue Reading
Posted on November 12, 2008 12:15 PM
It's an unplanned Joel Comm LIVE! featuring Internet marketing discussion, a new top ten list, and a reference to the new bacon-flavored spread.
Joel's mom drops into the chat room and we talk about upcoming product launches.
It's fun and games with a side helping of useful instruction.
Check out this week's episode now! Continue Reading
Posted on October 8, 2008 08:00 AM
I often talk about the different tools that you can use to complement the AdSense units you put on your site. Sure, AdSense is always going to be the most effective ad system on your pages. But you also want to earn for your impressions, and from affiliate links too.
A mixture of different revenue generations systems will help to increase the value you receive for your users.
Continue Reading
Posted on September 15, 2008 10:25 PM
It's been two years in the making. Finally, Blizzard Entertainment has announced the long-awaited expansion pack to the world's most popular MMORPG, World of Warcraft. Wrath of the Lich King is set to hit stores on November 13th, and I expect it to be another huge best-seller. Some people are surprised to find out that I play computer games, but I like to work hard AND play hard. Those who know my story would know... Continue Reading
Posted on August 20, 2008 03:31 PM
When Apple released the iPhone in 2007, they effectively announced "game over" to the rest of the cell phone world. With the release of the 3G and the iTunes App Store, Apple puts another nail in the coffin of wannabees who will arrive late to this party. The moment I saw the App Store, I realized that I had to begin producing applications that the installed user base of 10,000,000 iPhone users would embrace. I'm... Continue Reading
Posted on August 11, 2008 11:23 AM
We had a great time in Glenwood Springs. From taking a Segway tour of the area and a day at the world's largest hot springs pool to downtime for rest & relaxation and a trip to a rain-covered Snowmass, my family and I enjoyed our brief vacation. I may put up some video once I get the chance. But I've had a lot of people curious about how the return train ride went on Amtrak... Continue Reading
Posted on April 29, 2008 10:54 PM
When Mike Filsaime visited last week, he suggested that I get a the DVD documentary, "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters". It is the story of a the men who are completely dedicated to owning the world record for the highest score in the videogame, Donkey Kong. Yes, you heard me correctly. There are people who obsess about having the high score for a videogame. After all, there is an entry in the... Continue Reading
Posted on April 10, 2008 12:53 AM
Can I be honest with you?
I have written the first few lines of this entry several times and I just can't seem to find the words to tell you what I want to tell you today.
The fact is... I'm so freakin' excited about something I just came across that I couldn't wait to share it with you! Continue Reading
Posted on April 5, 2008 12:55 AM
It was fall of 2005 when I was scheduled to speak at Robert Puddy's Focus 4 the Future Internet marketing conference. It was the first time I had spoken at an event and I was on a roster with Mike Filsaime, Gary Ambrose and Craig Perrine. Yes, I was nervous. But why should I be? My AdSense ebook was a huge success and my name had begun to spread in the Internet marketing community. The... Continue Reading
Posted on April 4, 2008 08:46 AM
I recently had the privilege of spending time with Mike Filsaime.
The guy is one of the most brilliant marketers in the world, and he told me how he is "moving the free line"... again!
Mike knows viral marketing unlike anyone else and he understands the power of providing free high quality information to people. He also understands the power of branding the reports and allowing others to give them away for you. Continue Reading
Posted on April 3, 2008 01:19 PM
In March of 2006 I attended Yanik Silver's Internet Marketing Underground seminar in Washinton, DC. It was a life-changing date with destiny, for it was there that I met my future JV Partner, Eric Holmlund. I was also impressed by the high caliber of people who attended this seminar. It seemed that there was an awful lot of success in the room filled with over 300 people. Two years later and Yanik does not disappoint... Continue Reading
Posted on March 24, 2008 01:54 AM
I've got a pretty colorful past. I got my first job when I was fourteen-years old, working behind the counter of a fast-food restaurant at Northbrook Court shopping mall in Northbrook, Illinois. After all, I needed to save up money to buy a TRS-80 Model I computer from Radio Shack! Once I acquired my driver's license, I worked in the health & beauty department at Venture. Yes, I was a stockboy. At the age of... Continue Reading
Posted on March 13, 2008 01:53 AM
There's a fun game people like to play that goes like this. Take any sentence or phrase and add the words "in bed" as a suffix to make it funnier. For example, "John ate a steak... in bed" or "Jill picked out the latest hat to wear... in bed" It's especially fun with fortune cookies, where the game has become part of our pop culture. For example, "You have very good skills and exceptional talents... Continue Reading
Posted on February 25, 2008 05:54 PM
I've been wanting to meet Jason Calacanis face-to-face for some time. For those that don't know, Jason is the co-creator of Weblogs, Inc., which was sold to AOL for $25 million. I'm at Affiliate Summit in Las Vegas where Jason Calacanis delivered the keynote address this morning. I really didn't know anything about Jason as a person, so I was looking forward to an insightful talk with fresh ideas. Wow, was I in for a... Continue Reading
Posted on February 16, 2008 11:58 PM
World of Warcraft has now occupied a part of my life for three years.
No, I am not one of those people that plays hours each day, let alone every day.
But I do enjoy the game and am eagerly anticipating the next expansion set titled "Wrath of the Lich King".
Apparantly I am not alone.
There are now over 9,000,000 people around the world who play World of Warcraft. Continue Reading
Posted on January 15, 2008 08:06 AM
I make no secret of it. I am a 43-year old man who loves playing computer and video games. And why not? I was a teenage when Space Invaders, Asteroids and Centipede took over the arcades. I was sixteen when I bought my first computer, a TRS-80. It was great for primitive gaming. And I've got a great collection of old computer software in a special room in my basement. Perhaps I'll do a video... Continue Reading
Posted on January 7, 2008 12:18 AM
I've been paying close attention to customer service wherever I go these days. In my business, I tell my support team to go the extra mile when assisting customers. I believe this pays off big time in the long run. But I am amazed at how many businesses do not pay attention to the simplest of customer service details. In the past few days, I have made observations at Best Buy, Gamestop, Qdoba and... my... Continue Reading
Posted on December 18, 2007 10:35 PM
I'm a huge fan of developing online communities for revenue generation. The wonderful thing about community sites is that the members create the content for you. However, it can sometimes be tricky to kickstart your forums in order to get people posting. If you launch forums and people visit only to find that there is no activity, odds are they aren't going to register, post or return. This is the primary reason most forums don't... Continue Reading
Posted on December 16, 2007 11:24 AM
Twitter this. Twitter that. Twitter, twitter, twitter. I must confess. I'm still not sure what the point is of Twitter. Basically, Twitter allows you to tell the world what you are doing at any given moment, embed a clever little widget on your site so they can keep up with you, and you in turn can see what they are doing. I'm not sure I get it. Nevertheless, apparantly millions of people do get it... Continue Reading
Posted on October 24, 2007 12:34 AM
I'm not a big sports fan.
I used to watch a lot of baseball when I was a kid.
And I watched a good bit of football in college.
But as an adult, I just haven't made much time for sports. Continue Reading
Posted on October 23, 2007 09:54 AM
Last month I was in Atlanta for the Big Seminar. Now usually I'm not much of a morning person, but when I took a peek at Friday's schedule, I knew I had to wake up early... Over the past five years or so I'd been hearing the first speaker's name over and over again... "Joel you've got to check out this young kid Jermaine. He's from the inner-city, but Corey Rudl is taking him under his... Continue Reading
Posted on September 5, 2007 03:32 PM
What do poker, real estate and product launches have in common?
Find out in episode 3 of "The Next Internet Millionaire", now available online!
Last week found Laura and Steve joining Carly and Debbie in the"sandbox." This week, all four sandboxed contestants will have an opportunity to get back in the game.
Will they succeed or fail?
Continue Reading
Posted on September 3, 2007 12:06 PM
There's no doubt that Google is challenging Microsoft's dominance of the desktop.
Search, office applications, email... the list goes on.
But here's a surprise that was discovered as an easter egg hidden in Google Earth...
... The Google Earth Flight Simulator Continue Reading
Posted on August 1, 2007 07:42 AM
Deciding on a topic for a blog post isn't always easy. Sometimes, you'll know exactly what you want to write. Other times, you'll struggle for an idea. But there are times when a subject just seems unavoidable. Whenever Apple releases a new product, Nintendo brings out a new game system or Harry Potter hits the news again, it seems as though everyone is writing about the same thing. And of course, those aren't the only... Continue Reading
Posted on June 22, 2007 12:30 AM
Let's play a game...
Simon says start your own website.
Simon says sign up for Google AdWords.
Start building your list.
Hey, I didn't say "Simon says!" Continue Reading
Posted on June 10, 2007 11:47 PM
It's one of the biggest challenges of building a profitable online publishing business. It's also one of the most important. Generating traffic. There's no easy way to do it. Yes, you have to have good content. Without that, you're never going to get the sort of traffic that arrives naturally, comes back and gives you referrals. But even good content isn't enough. It doesn't matter how good your content is if no one knows you... Continue Reading
Posted on March 31, 2007 08:29 AM
Last week, I wrote how my World of Warcraft account was compromised over a wireless network while at a hotel in Washington, D.C. My entire account was emptied of my hard-earned gold and loot. I was left without anything. I wrote to the support team at Blizzard with complete details of my account and what had happened. They wrote me back telling me that my case would be escalated to the investigation team, and that... Continue Reading
Posted on March 19, 2007 11:58 AM
I love to write my own newsletter. It gives me an opportunity to share my thoughts and feelings with you in a very personal way. However, my friend Eric Holmlund has written such a brilliant piece that I have asked him if I can reproduce it in its entirity. Being a great guy, Eric said no problem. With no further ado, here is Eric's post... ---------------------- I want to tell you about a young woman... Continue Reading
Posted on March 7, 2007 12:22 AM
Let's play a game. Take the following quiz by filling in the blanks...
1) A _______ in the hand is worth two in the bush.
2) A rolling stone gathers no _____.
3) A penny _______ is a penny earned.
4) A stitch in time saves ______.
5) Without ________, you can't make any money with your website. Continue Reading
Posted on December 18, 2006 11:17 AM
I love this time of year. It remind me just how fortunate I am. While many people across the country will be looking forward to spending some extra time with their families over Christmas, I get to spend as much time with my family as I want every day of the year. That was always one of the big motivations for me as an online publisher: I wanted to be free to decide when to... Continue Reading
Posted on November 28, 2006 12:38 AM
The information age really does move at the speed of light. Technology is advancing faster than we ever conceived possible. I've been online for 26 years now. In 1980, I bought my first computer, a TRS-80. This machine had 4K of RAM (not 4MB... 4K) and a cassette player that was used as a storage device. There wasn't even a floppy disc drive! I owned a 300 baud modem that I used to dial into... Continue Reading
Posted on November 15, 2006 05:07 PM
Nintendo Wii? Sony Playstation 3? Which is better? And does it really matter? Watch this for my honest assessment and to find out why this video is WAY more important than which game system is the best. Wii or PS3?
Read on for my review... Continue Reading
Posted on November 9, 2006 09:53 AM
I regularly receive questions from my readers and subscribers. In fact, I get WAY too many questions to even begin to address them all.
Today, I have a question for YOU! In fact, I am soliciting your input.
First, a little history... Continue Reading
Posted on November 8, 2006 07:56 AM
Let's play a game. I am going to list several quotes from people, and you have to guess what they are talking about. These are all REAL quotes... Ready? Person #1 says... "Even though I am at loss for words I want to thank you again from the bottom of my heart for an experience that I will NEVER forget" Person #2 says... "I've met with more JV extraordinaires, created more wonderful relationships, and have... Continue Reading
Posted on September 13, 2006 10:06 AM
2007 is really just around the corner. Can you believe it? And as sure as Christmas displays are starting to pop up in select stores, it is time to start shopping for your 2007 calendar.
I've used this site to find my calendar for the past couple years, so I thought I'd recommend them to you as well. Continue Reading
Posted on August 14, 2006 09:13 AM
Alright, it's time for some fun and games. Are you familiar with the abundance of "tycoon" games on the market? You know the ones... Lemonade Tycoon Sim City Mall Tycoon Rollercoaster Tycoon etc... I thought it would be fun to put together an online game focused on making money with AdSense, and I'm pleased to invite you to come and try out The AdSense Game now! Be sure to follow the instructions so you can... Continue Reading
Posted on August 10, 2006 11:05 AM
This is a very creative and fun diversion for those who have nothing better to do than to play Solitaire in between tasks.
The creator used maps from Google and implemented a graphic of an airplane that you can fly above the map.
Click the link below to check it out and select your flight destination!
Goggles Continue Reading
Posted on June 17, 2006 11:37 PM
Everyone has their pet peeves, present company included. Being Saturday, I had to go to the store for a couple different things. I needed to pick up a framed poster at Hobby Lobby and I took my son to Best Buy so he could spend a gift card. At Hobby Lobby, I approached the checkout lanes and found there was only one girl handling all the customers. I took my spot in line behind the... Continue Reading
Posted on June 13, 2006 10:42 AM
Search the web for AdSense and you will find an absolute avalanche of products and services related to Google's popular contextual advertising service. Most of the these products are software or tools designed to game the system, taking advantage of the weaknesses in the search engines in order to generate a quick buck with AdSense. You know what I am talking about. These are the tools that build "garbage" pages that exist for no reason... Continue Reading
Posted on June 4, 2006 01:25 AM
The Sony PSP is a handy little gadget. I've been getting a lot of entertainment mileage out of it while traveling miles across the country. It acts as a great diversion to pass the time on an airplane. From Hawaii to Orlando to Vegas, I've enjoyed playing Daxter and have just about finished the game. But the PSP is good for more than just playing games. Whether you want to listen to music, surf the... Continue Reading
Posted on June 3, 2006 02:36 AM
Deal or No Deal. Admit it. You watch it too.
It's like the irresistable black light of a bug zapper, drawing you in to the flavor of the day...
Howie Mandel, the briefcases, the ladies, the contestants and the banker. It's Deal or No Deal. Continue Reading
Posted on May 28, 2006 05:22 AM
So, I am at this conference in Orlando and Paulie Sabol says, "Joel, you have the most recognizable face on the Internet". He is referring to the fact that my face appears as an avatar on Yahoo! Games. Recognize this guy? I'm pretty amused at the thought. I know that Brad Fallon is the coolest guy in the world (go ahead, Google the term "coolest guy in the world", but I hadn't heard of anyone... Continue Reading
Posted on May 25, 2006 01:29 PM
Internet entrepreneur Joel Comm and his new book: "The AdSense Code: What Google Never Told You About Making Money with AdSense." reveal how anyone can generate passive income on the Internet. Since only those books that appeared on Oprah ranked higher, Comm figures Oprah and her audience would find his Internet income strategies the real story.
Read on for today's news release... Continue Reading
Posted on May 7, 2006 11:29 PM
Lara Croft is back. And this time she means business. Back in the late nineties, Lara Croft came on the scene in the game Tomb Raider. A female "Indiana Jones"-style character, Lara spelunked tombs in ancient ruins of Rome, Mexico, Egypt and Atlantis, fighting off creatures and bad guys while on the hunt for priceless artifacts and treasure. Rather than just shooting to kill stuff, Tomb Raider challenged the player mentally with a series of... Continue Reading
Posted on May 1, 2006 09:49 PM
Whenever I do teleseminars and publicly speak, I tell people that we are entering a new age of the Internet. Internet v1.0 was the beginning of the web. Money was tossed about like confetti as venture capitalist waved millions of Benjamins at anything with a dotcom for a suffix.
Then the bubble burst.
Enter Internet v2.0. Continue Reading
Posted on April 24, 2006 09:24 AM
I love to play games with my family. Board games, card games, party games. We like them all.
Sure, sometimes we have a hard time agreeing on what to play. But once we get going we usually have a fun time.
We are always on the lookout for new games to play. And with so many choices, how do you know which games will give the biggest bang for the buck?
Continue Reading
Posted on April 15, 2006 03:06 AM
A friend told me that he had something to show me that had to be seen to be believed.
He said it is called a hydroflyer.
Ok, I'm game. What's a hydroflyer?
Go to the site and watch the video. You'll see.
And like me, you will probably say "WOW!" Continue Reading
Posted on April 13, 2006 11:20 AM
I like the food at The Cracker Barrel. It's usually pretty good, whether we go there for breakfast or dinner. They have done a great job of positioning themselves as the "Old Country Store", a combination restaurant/retail shop, where every store is positioned on a major U.S. interstate. And every store looks virtually the same. Continue Reading
Posted on April 12, 2006 07:21 PM
I did it. I bit the PSP bullet and forked over my cash to Sony. I've been playing video games and computer games ever since there was such a beast. I remember when Pong first arrived on the scene. I owned a Fairchild Channel One video game system (the failed precursor to the Atari home video game system that sold millions of units). I've owned Nintendos, Playstations, XBox's and who knows what else. It was... Continue Reading
Posted on April 11, 2006 12:39 AM
A few months back, I started a blogging network that would allow beginners to get started with blogging and allow them to earn some AdSense cash for their efforts.
The WorldVillage Blogger Network is really starting to take off and I am pleased to announce that we are accepting more new applications to join this fast-growing network. Continue Reading
Posted on March 28, 2006 02:27 PM
Kiss your free time goodbye. Cute, furry creatures are about to dominate your desktop.
Don't look now. It's Chuzzle. Continue Reading
Posted on March 19, 2006 10:08 AM
Spore is Will Wright's latest computer game, and it is set to revolutionize the PC gaming world.
Creator of Sim City and The Sims, Spore is unlike anything else you have ever experienced in computer gaming. Due out in 2007, Spore will offer an open-ended gameplay style that will appeal to a wide variety of gamers. Continue Reading
Posted on March 10, 2006 11:27 PM
I was flying at 30,000 feet, gazing out at the horizon and the cities below. I was somewhere between Raleigh and Memphis, but I wasn't sure where. I wondered exactly what city I was looking down upon from so high in the sky, and I thought of my recent dabbling with Google Earth. If you haven't used Google Earth yet, you are missing out on an extremely cool application that allows you to soar across... Continue Reading
Posted on March 9, 2006 11:43 PM
I must confess, the XBox 360 does have amazing video quality. I purchased a game called "Kameo", which is the closest thing to a platformer on the 360. However, I did not have a memory card, so I could not save my game. I also went to the store to see about getting a XBox game from the original selections. As it turns out, the XBox 360 is backwards compatible to many games, but you... Continue Reading
Posted on March 7, 2006 10:59 PM
I am extremely impressed with the folks at TextPayMe.com. Not only is their "send funds by cell phone" service ultra-cool, but they have made good on their free Xbox 360 offer in record time! Continue Reading
Posted on March 4, 2006 11:12 PM
My friend, Scott Hamlin, just told me about a cool site that allows other website owners to download games and place them on their pages for their visitors to enjoy. The site is called Pixel Toys and it has several family-friendly games that can be downloaded instantly or played online. Check it out! Continue Reading
Posted on March 3, 2006 06:04 PM
I can't remember the last time I had so much fun playing guitar.
No, I'm not talking about my Yamaha Strat knock-off or my Ibanez steel string.
I'm talking about a plastic guitar with no strings and five frets.
Huh? Continue Reading
Posted on February 22, 2006 11:28 PM
I don't like fishing. I couldn't care less if I ever catch another fish the rest of my life.
However, my alter-ego, Zorigon, enjoys fishing quite a bit. It's even more enjoyable when I am providing fish for my son, BRMadcat.
Sound weird? It's just another day in the alternate universe known as World of Warcraft Continue Reading
Posted on January 7, 2006 09:34 AM
It's been at least seven years since I have attended the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Since I was coming into town for the Affiliate Summit, I thought I'd come to town a day early and enjoy free entry as a member of the press. It took little arm-twisting to convince my good friend, Dave Taylor, to join me on this excursion. Continue Reading
Posted on December 14, 2005 12:40 AM
Two totally conflicting stories out of Hollywood today that explain absolutely everything you need to know about how out of touch Hollyweird is with the American mainstream. Continue Reading
Posted on December 1, 2005 02:08 AM
I've gone the majority of the year without a compelling computer game to buy. Of course, I purchased World of Warcraft in 2004, so that doesn't count. But things have taken a turn for the better this past month. Look at what is now in my PC gaming queue. Continue Reading
Posted on November 17, 2005 10:26 PM
SuDoKu is the hottest thing to come out of Japan since the Sony Playstation. What is SuDoKu? Simply put, it is a Japanese logic puzzle game that you can play on paper or on the computer. Essentially, you have nine 3 x 3 grids, aligned to form one 9 x 9 grid. Within each 3 x 3 grid, you must use every number from 1 to 9 only one time. But within the 9 x... Continue Reading
Posted on October 3, 2005 11:28 PM
Mary was out of town at a conference yesterday, so I wanted to find something fun for the kids and myself to do together. Last week, I found out that a new place opened up on Northwest Expressway in Warr Acres, OK, where an old Wal-Mart used to be. It is called "Incredible Pizza". I asked a friend about it and was told that they opened up about six months ago. They described it as... Continue Reading
Posted on September 23, 2005 12:50 AM
I will never forget the thrill of seeing my first video game. Pong opened the doorway to electronic gaming bliss and most in my generation have never looked back. I remember when Space Invaders and Asteroids came out, displacing the pinball machine as the game du jour. I remember begging my father for a Fairchild video game system, the predecessor to the Atari 2600. I remember playing games on my TRS-80 and being absolutely floored... Continue Reading
Posted on September 19, 2005 05:06 PM
World of Warcraft may be the most popular MMORPG ever. Over 3.5 million people are now playing worldwide. Tons of fan sites have popped up, celebrating this massive online fantasy world. And some people are quite creative with the resources provided by the game. No, I am not talking about the Chinese farmers who find the best places in the game to loot gold and resell for exhorbitant prices on ebay. I am talking about... Continue Reading
Posted on September 10, 2005 09:23 AM
Let's play a word game. I'll say the name of a popular camera-hogging celebrity, and then I'll say the first word that comes to mind. Yeah, I know. Not much fun for you, but it's not your blog. Here we go. I say "Reverend Jesse Jackson" First word? "Racist" "Al Sharpton" Racist Kanye West "Stupid Racist Punk" Oops, that was three words. I guess I lose. Actually, the minorities in America lose when these so-called... Continue Reading
Posted on August 11, 2005 02:40 PM
Netflix, Blockbuster, Wal-Mart and many others have entered the online DVD rental game. It is a very competitive market with each merchant bringing something different to the table. Today, I ran across a novel approach to DVD viewing. Peerflix.com invites you to TRADE DVDs instead of renting them. It's a pretty spiffy idea, and they have a free DVD offer which is very attractive. Here's what they offer: - Risk-free trial today. - Free DVD... Continue Reading
Posted on August 2, 2005 12:17 PM
If I had been drinking coffee or milk, it would have come out my nose when I saw this story. Yesterday, the news reported that President Bush is the most physically fit President in history. He exercises six days/week and eats well. In the response to this, The Democratic National Committee has issued a press release saying "Bush Should Stop Playing Games with Physical Fitness". They accuse the President of cutting funding to schools for... Continue Reading
Posted on July 17, 2005 04:31 PM
When I first heard that Tim Burton was doing a version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I thought "Oh no. He's going to butcher it." Don't get me wrong. For the most part, I like Tim Burton's work. Yes, he is bizarre, and probably somewhat twisted. But I like his creative flair. I enjoy his unusual characters and camera angles. But I also have read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and thoroughly enjoyed Willy... Continue Reading
Posted on May 29, 2005 07:27 PM
Ever since I took part in my first MMORPG (massive multiplayer online gaming) I have thought it would be fun to blog my experiences, starting as a newbie and continuing for as long as I played the game. Today, I purchased The Matrix Online, the game that promises to continue the story of the Matrix in an ever-unfolding interactive storyline. As a fan of The Matrix mythology, I think this will make for an interesting... Continue Reading
Posted on May 16, 2005 09:40 PM
For the past few years, I have been slowly building a collection which has taken over my closet. Having grown up playing video games, I was there when the first home PC was introduced. I remember the thrill of playing Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy as a text adventure. (Incidentally, you can now play online for free. I remember when the first person shooter was born in the form of Wolfenstein 3D. I was there... Continue Reading
Posted on May 5, 2005 03:02 PM
I have been in Atlanta, Georgia since Monday, attending an Internet conference. On Monday, I played golf with some of the guys, if you can call it "playing golf". I really stink at the game, but I had fun. The rest of the week I've been attending workshops and hanging out with some very cool and interesting people. Tomorrow I head back home. Anyhow, today is my birthday and I have been receiving phone calls... Continue Reading
Posted on April 15, 2005 12:01 PM
I've been slaving away attempting to make sense of this thing we call the Internet. In order to put things in proper perspective, I have composed this paper which I hope will prove useful. Continue Reading
Posted on April 14, 2005 12:18 AM
In 1996, Eidos Interactive came out of nowhere with a game that has become one of my all-time Top 10 computer games. (Maybe I'll do a top 10 series if I ever finish my 15 Best Movies of All Time) Continue Reading
Posted on March 2, 2005 09:44 AM
A few years back, I was into selling on ebay big time. Since I am collector of old computer games, I found a market for like-minded collectors on ebay, reselling some of my $1 floppy disk software for as much as $50. It was a sweet deal. But I also learned a little bit about how the collector's market works on ebay, and I began looking out for retail products that would eventually become collector's... Continue Reading
Posted on February 10, 2005 03:24 PM
Are you a teacher or a webmaster? Do you have your own personal web site? Did you know that you can add a variety of fun games to your pages? It's a great way to build content and invite others to visit your web site. Barb Feldman has written a fabulous eBook called "How to Add Games to Your Web Site". It contains a boatload of fabulous tips and specific steps to take in... Continue Reading
Posted on January 29, 2005 10:09 PM
It is getting easier and easier to rent dvds and video games on the web. With BlockBuster and Wal-mart in the game, pricing is going down and service is getting competitive. I have used Blockbuster online for several months now and have been quite happy with the service. For $14.95/month, I can keep up to three DVDs at one time. On top of that, I can print out two coupons that I can take the... Continue Reading
Posted on January 26, 2005 11:39 PM
If you have played computer games for many years, you may recall an early real-time strategy game called Lemmings. Available on many computer and video game platforms, Lemmings was one of the first truly addictive real-time strategy games that appealed to boys and girls (er, men and women?) The idea was simple. Escort a predetermined number of lemmings through a level by assigning them various skills, such as digging, building staircases, climbing, floating, bashing and... Continue Reading
Posted on January 21, 2005 11:40 PM
It is with much fondness that I bid adieu to World of Warcraft. I've been playing my character, Riathamus, for just over a month, and I have experienced a great deal of what the game has to offer. However, the game is so enormous, so huge, and so seemingly endless, that I am in turning in my two-handed mace and calling it quits. This game is simply too good. It's too beautiful. It's too much... Continue Reading
Posted on December 20, 2004 10:41 AM
I friend recently recommended that I give a look at World of Warcraft, the latest MMORPG to hit the market. WoW comes with a boatload of hype, mostly due to the incredibly successful Warcraft: Orcs vs. Humans RPG series. WoW, however, is an entirely different beast than the previous games (which didn't interest me in the least). WoW is a fully 3D world teaming with life and critters of all kinds. Since I enjoyed Star... Continue Reading
Posted on October 22, 2004 03:22 PM
A few months back, BlockBuster Video sent me a press kit encouraging me to try their new online DVD rental service. I had used Netflix once before, but wasn't too thrilled with their service at the time. I decided to give BlockBuster a try. After two months as a member, I must confess that I am terribly impressed with BlockBuster's service! Here's how it works. You pay a monthly fee of $19.95 which allows you... Continue Reading
Posted on October 15, 2004 06:08 PM
Charles Krauthammer, writing for the Jewish World Review, has come out with an article that precisely nails down the problem with John Kerry and John Edwards. Highlights from Krauthammer's article... This is John Edwards on Monday at a rally in Newton, Iowa: "If we do the work that we can do in this country, the work that we will do when John Kerry is president, people like Christopher Reeve are going to walk, get up... Continue Reading
Posted on October 6, 2004 08:35 PM
About fifteen years ago, I started using bulletin board services online. These were pre-world wide web servers that ran out of people's homes. You would dial up the BBS on your 1200 baud modem and connect to a text-only based site. These sites would provide forums for discussion, information for reading and programs for downloading. Some of the more progressive boards had games you could play online, text only of course. Way back then, I... Continue Reading
Posted on September 25, 2004 11:41 PM
I have written some about GameZNFlix.com on this site the past few months. The latest reports from subscribers is that their service is getting better all the time. Now might be a good time to try them out. Basically, for $18.50/month, you can rent up to three movies and video games at the same time. I've used NetFlix in the past, but they only offer movies. Some other services offer video game rentals. To my... Continue Reading
Posted on September 20, 2004 11:55 PM
The most requested DVDs of all time are finally going to be hitting the retail shelves today. Faster than you can say, "Use the Force, Luke", The Star Wars Trilogy DVD set will probably break all records for DVD sales. I know that I will be contributing my $45 to George Lucas's pocketbooks as I plan on picking up my copy on my way to work today. If you can stand to wait a few... Continue Reading
Posted on September 1, 2004 12:29 PM
Amazingly, there are still liberals and democrats repeating the "Bush lied about WMDs" mantra. Let's put it to rest once and for all. Before we went to war in Iraq, what did DEMOCRATS say about the connection between Saddam and WMDs? "One way or the other, we are determined to deny Iraq the capacity to develop weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them. That is our bottom line." - President Clinton, Feb... Continue Reading
Posted on August 26, 2004 03:05 PM
My friend Gary Rosenzweig at Clevermedia.com, has unleashed a fantastic online game that is timely and addictive. Campaign Trail 2004 allows you to run a campaign for the candidate of your choice. You decide which states the Presidential and VP candidates are going to spend time and money in. It's easy to play but challenging to master. Can you win the election? Play now! Continue Reading
Posted on August 7, 2004 11:00 PM
I came across a fun little game a few days ago and have enjoyed diverting a few moments of my spare time to playing it. It is called Marble Blast and it is a simple yet addictive! Using the ASWD keys and your mouse, you simply roll your marble across a suspended platform, attempting to reach the finish line as quickly as possible. Obstacles, such as zero-gravity space, stairs, ramps, bumpers, mines and more, are... Continue Reading
Posted on July 15, 2004 11:27 PM
We checked out of Beaver Creek around noon today, leisurely packing and enjoying the remainder of our stay. Jenna wanted to try the bungee trampoline, so we let her bounce for a few minutes before we left the resort. I think the height intimidated her, but she had fun. The drive from Beaver Creek to Keystone was less than an hour, but we stopped in Frisco en route to get something to eat. We enjoyed... Continue Reading
Posted on July 3, 2004 12:22 PM
Before you go any further, I must tell you that this article is NOT a movie review. Rather, it is a smack to the side of the head of Activision regarding the release of the new PC game of the same name. Available last week, amidst much hype due to the release of the movie, Spiderman 2: The Game was promised to be an extremely open-ended game where you had all of Manhattan Island to... Continue Reading
Posted on June 30, 2004 09:31 PM
In my quest for the perfect online game, I have past by Everquest for several years now. However, I was reading a PC game magazine and saw that they were offering a 30-day free trial to the game. So I went to the site and downloaded an enormous 1.26 GB file. I installed it and signed up as Remotheus, a warrior of some sort or another, with devotion to some god of love. I figure... Continue Reading
Posted on June 25, 2004 02:00 AM
I have been wanting to find a new PC game to play, of the massive multiplayer style. I went through my Star Wars Galaxies addiction last year. I played City of Heroes for about 3 weeks recently, before getting bored. And I am having a difficult time finding something new that peaks my interest. I tried the Sim onlines for about 10 minutes when it came out last year. Yawn. I downloaded a free trial... Continue Reading
Posted on June 7, 2004 01:12 AM
Parents, hide your children. Children, hide your parents. The computer game industry is turned on its ear with a game so vile, so addictive, so hazardous, that we have called upon the U.S. Government to impose new regulation banning it from the internet. Is it the latest incarnation of Grand Theft Auto? Is it the upcoming Doom 3? No, ladies and gentlemen. This is a stealth game. It looks harmless, but it pulls you into... Continue Reading
Posted on June 3, 2004 12:20 PM
The Emmy Award-Winning "Amazing Race" has not been victorious in the ratings race. In fact, there was a question of whether or not CBS would bring it back for another season. I am thrilled to announce that they have indeed renewed the show and the premiere of Season 5 is to take place on July 6th. My Tivo will be capturing every moment. Eleven teams of two, bound by some sort of relationship (father/son, best... Continue Reading
Posted on May 17, 2004 01:23 AM
Call me Mr. Wonderful. No, its not Mary's pet name for me. And no, I don't have a super-inflated sense of self. Mr. Wonderful has been my alter-ego these past two weeks in City of Heroes, a massively multiplayer online game recently released by Cryptic Studios. The fictional location of Paragon City has had a difficult time lately. What with an alien invasion and several gangs of thugs battling it out for control of the... Continue Reading
Posted on May 16, 2004 08:54 PM
Some links to make your day more falidocious
Clinton Scandals - A must-read primer documenting the failures of the Clinton administration
Reality TV World - A welcome respite after paging through the previous link
City of Heroes - massive online roleplaying game. Review soon to come.
Flywheel - Heartwarming and hard to find movie of faith. Rent it!
Movie parables - Just what does that movie mean? Continue Reading
Posted on April 29, 2004 12:00 AM
My investment in GameZNFlix.com is starting to pay off. Trading as GZFX on the OTC bulletin board exchange, this little penny-stock company has got guts. As mentioned in a previous entry, Ben Curtis of "Dude, you're getting a Dell" fame was on CNBC Wednesday afternoon and he talked about the company. He will be featured in three commercials to be broadcast nationally in early May. The stock hit a high of .14 today and is... Continue Reading
Posted on April 22, 2004 06:14 PM
The conference in Reno is going great. What a fantastic opportunity to face-to-face with so many of the people whom I have had the opportunity to work with online. Back in a 1996, I had the privilage of being interviewed for the now-defunct Boardwatch Magazine by the infamous Bob Rankin, a tech guru from the dark ages of the online world. Dr. Bob, as he is known online, is the originator of the Internet Tourbus... Continue Reading
Posted on April 17, 2004 12:05 AM
The Republican National Committee launched a new web game today that illustrates the massive tax increases required to pay for John Kerry's promised spending. Earlier this week the RNC unveiled the Index De Le Miserables, which calculated Senator Kerry's promised spending, promised tax increases, and unidentified tax increases. Senator Kerry's IDM was 20.46 the same as Carters MI in 1980. "John Kerry has promised $1.9 trillion in new spending and that’s just on the... Continue Reading
Posted on April 16, 2004 12:15 PM
We interupt our regularly scheduled blog for this public service announcement. GPlay is the Internet's place to rent video games online. Simply select the games you want for your Playstation, Playstation 2, X-Box, Gamecube or Gameboy Advance, and Gplay will ship them directly to your home. There are NO late fees, NO due dates, unlimited rentals, free shipping (both ways) and over 1900 titles to choose from. Get a FREE two week trial now! Rent... Continue Reading
Posted on April 2, 2004 10:49 AM
No entries this week because I have been out of town. In Texas, actually, feeding one of my hobbies. I am a collector of old computer games. I grew up playing on my TRS-80 and dos-based PC, and am quite nostalgic about the oldies from the eighties and early nineties. I have not found any stores in the OKC area that buy or sell old computer games, but there are a handful of places in... Continue Reading
Posted on March 30, 2004 09:46 AM
I've been telling you about a newcomer on the video game/DVD rental market, GameZNFlix.com. They have finally launched their new site and they just announced that Ben Curtis (the former spokesman for Dell Computer) is going to be appearing in their new television commercials. This is a huge coup for GameZNFlix.com as they seek to compete with Netflix in the huge DVD rental market. The thing that makes their company different is that the monthly... Continue Reading
Posted on March 28, 2004 12:57 AM
For your entertainment pleasure, I present five fun sites to liven up your surfing experience...
Chicken Shoot - a barnyard blast!
Home of the Underdogs - Download old computer games
Just Adventure - a dying genre of computer games
Yahoo! Games - Look for my face as an avatar in the table games
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - play the original Douglas Adams/Infocom text adventure online Continue Reading
Posted on March 19, 2004 01:45 PM
As a follow up to my entry on VeeGeez.com, I am still holding a position in the company, now renamed GameZNFlix. The company is trading on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol GZFX. The new GameZNFlix.com is going to go up against NetFlix, the leading online place to rent DVDs. GameZNFlix has a different plan. They will be renting DVDs AND video games for one low monthly fee. This is a great plan, in... Continue Reading
Posted on March 14, 2004 02:22 PM
Some recommended links if you have nothing better to do:
Top Grossing Movies of All Time - as of this writing, The Passion of Christ is at #23
A Tasty Snack Food
TV Game Show fun
The Word Spy - just what IS a metrosexual anyhow?
"Use the Force, Luke" Continue Reading
Posted on March 6, 2004 12:39 AM
Roses are red,
Violets are blue
I hope you enjoy
These links just for you
John Kerry's waffles
Wordsearch Puzzle Maker
Parental Control Software (used in my home!)
Inspiration for Moms
Seussical the Musical (I am taking my kids to see this next week) Continue Reading
Posted on February 27, 2004 12:00 AM
Michael Medved is not alone in speaking out against those who would attempt label The Passion of Christ as "anti-semitic". Rabbi Daniel Lapin, known on the national airwaves as "America's Rabbi", has written a thoughtful article taking his fellow Jews to task. Lapin states: Those Jewish organizations that have squandered both time and money futilely protesting Passion, ostensibly in order to prevent pogroms in Pittsburgh, can hardly be proud of their performance. They failed at... Continue Reading
Posted on February 17, 2004 10:40 PM
As the World Wide Web enters its second decade of existence, .com has become a ubiquitous surname. From the obvious pets.com and business.com to the unique sendmeadollar.com and hollywoodjesus.com, it is clear that .com has become King of the domain roost. .net and .org have been around almost as long, but they are like the red-headed stepchildren at K-Mart. (No offense to red-headed kids, but all offense meant to K-Mart.) .net was initially intended for... Continue Reading
Posted on February 14, 2004 10:40 PM
I have been into computers since the TRS-80 Model I came out in the late seventies. I am not a programmer, but I can put a PC together from scratch, install an operating system and just about any software. I can tweak a machine under the hood and have been able to solve just about any problem I have encountered. To my family, friends and associates, I am the local computer guru. But even I... Continue Reading
Posted on February 6, 2004 02:42 PM
Last week I wrote about a new site I found, VeeGeez.com. VeeGeez is an online video game rental site. They intend to do for home video game rental what NetFlix did for the home DVD rental market. Well, they launched their new site this week and it looks GREAT! VeeGeez has some competition from GameFly and GPlay, but I think their site is better than the competitors. I am watching this one as an investment... Continue Reading
Posted on January 28, 2004 01:49 AM
I don't play with penny stocks much, but I've got my eye on a company with great potential. Point Group Holdings (Symbol PGHI) recently acquired VeeGeez.com, an online video game rental site. It's like NetFlix, only they rent video games instead of DVDs. If you'll remember, NetFlix went from $6 to almost $80 this past year. The DVD rental business is huge. So is the video game rental market. VeeGeez has some existing competition, but... Continue Reading
Posted on January 10, 2004 01:55 AM
I have love. I just don't know where to put it. What can we forgive? It's been a couple weeks since my last review in the series titled, The 15 Best Movies Ever, but I now know why it has taken me so long. Initially not on my top 15 list, but a runner-up, I have been wanting to watch Magnolia for several weeks. Tonight I finally got the opportunity to do so. It is... Continue Reading
Posted on January 8, 2004 10:28 AM
Another great Walmart story brought to you courtesy of the "whats-in-it-for-me" crowd... A Mt. Pleasant Township couple wants Wal-Mart to pay for foot and toe injuries they claim were caused by canned goods and condiments that tumbled from an overfilled plastic grocery bag. According to a two-count civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in Westmoreland County, Brenda and Ronald Sager contend a plastic bag they brought home from the East Huntingdon Township store last month was deficient... Continue Reading
Posted on December 29, 2003 11:13 PM
I have been a computer gamer ever since I encountered Space Invaders on my TRS-80 (that REALLY dates me) about 25 years ago. Dozens of computer games are published every year, but only a handful of those I try actually keep my attention for the duration of the game. The last game to do so we Star Wars Galaxies (which has since lost my attention and I am cancelling my account). I had a great... Continue Reading
Posted on December 6, 2003 01:10 AM
Yesterday I told you about Barbara Feldman and SurfNetKids.com. Barbara sent me a copy of her ebook, How to Add Games to Your Web Site, and I am suitably impressed! If you run a web site for kids or teens, or if you just want some free cool content for your own site, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy of Barb's ebook. Imagine adding crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, arcade games and... Continue Reading
Posted on November 5, 2003 11:46 PM
We departed from Conway, Arkansas around 10 am. About five hours later we pulled up to our home. The month flew by. It seems like yesterday I turned to Mary and said, "Are we really going to do this?" Now, it is over. We high-fived and I said, "We did it!" 2 kids 1 dog 31 days 1 packed minivan 1 flat tire 4720 miles 15 tanks of gas 103 hours of driving 16 hotels... Continue Reading
Posted on October 31, 2003 10:38 PM
Today we visited The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. As a Jew, I have been wanting to see the museum for a long time. I knew it would be a "must see" if I ever made it to Washington. I'm not sure I can put my experience into words, and perhaps it is best that I don't even try. I don't want to minimize my visit into simple cliches. I'll sum up by saying this... Continue Reading
Posted on October 26, 2003 10:11 PM
Sunday. Lazy day. We slept in, laid around, watched TV, had breakfast and laid around some more. The nice folks at the Conwell Inn allowed us to use their washer and dryer, so we did laundry for free. Later in the afternoon we hopped in the minivan and attempted to find civilization. We were all pretty hungry and were looking for something we recognized. We drove, and drove and drove. And you know what we... Continue Reading
Posted on October 21, 2003 09:15 PM
We had a horrible night at the Quality Inn in Lyndhurst, NJ. It was supposed to be a non-smoking room, but the odor was there just the same. I went to the front desk and they gave me an ionizer to use in the room. We gave it a shot, but it didn't do the trick and the odor was giving Mary a headache. It was late and the kids were already falling asleep, so... Continue Reading
Posted on August 28, 2003 10:51 AM
Google is good. Google is great. Check out the various results when typing in my name... Searching the web Searching Images - the first two results are computer artwork I did years ago. Searching Groups - this blew me away! Google has archived every blasted newsgroup that I participated in many years back. 8/24/97 - the launch of ClassicGames.com 7/5/95 - looking for software reviewers for our "new" site 7/26/94 - attempting to sell my... Continue Reading
Posted on August 22, 2003 12:35 PM
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is one of the most anticipated PC games ever to be released. It is already out for XBox and has received RAVE reviews. Unfortunately, PC users will have to wait until November to buy the game.
In the meantime, check out this fun Jedi Test on the KotOR web site. I came out as a 33. Can't help but be on the good side! How about you? Continue Reading
Posted on August 20, 2003 01:51 PM
Finally! The third sequel to the best-selling adventure series, Myst, is gearing up for release. Unlike its predecessors, Riven and Exile, Uru: Ages Beyond Myst is going to be massively multiplayer online role playing game. The game will have both single-player and multiplayer components, taking place in a a myst-like environment, surrounded by places to explore and puzzles to solve. It is a very ambitious project, to be sure. Continue Reading
Posted on August 17, 2003 06:33 PM
We discovered a great new game yesterday. Using nothing more than a GPS device (Global Positioning Satellite), our car and the cooperation of other fun seekers, we participated in an anytime sport known as GeoCaching! Essentially, people all over the world create the treasure that others would see. Take an old shoebox and fill it with various knickknacks. Find a place to stash it, often a public park. Get your hands on a GPS device... Continue Reading
Posted on July 29, 2003 12:25 PM
I decided to go check out the new Aspen Athletic Club that is opening just 1.5 miles away from our house. Mary and I have been talking about joining a club for a while, so I thought I'd stop be on my way to work. The actual club is still being built, but they have a temporary facility set up where they can sell memberships. I don't like long sales pitches and I had more... Continue Reading
Posted on July 26, 2003 04:34 PM
Our last day and we've really got nothing left that we want to do. We considered going to Colorado to see the sand dunes near Alamosa, but it was over 1.5 hours away and it was going to be hot. So we opted to have lunch in town and play it by ear. But first, we stopped at the Red River Candy Mountain Fudge shop. As you may recall from yesterday's entry, the manager asked... Continue Reading
Posted on July 25, 2003 10:30 PM
Another beautiful morning in Red River! We've been eating breakfast in the room all week, so we decided to go out for eggs and pancakes this morning. We went to The Hole Thing Donut Shop and were very pleased with the meal. It was pricy, but that's the way it goes. Afterwards, we found a nice park where the kids could play, the dog could sniff, and Mary and I could sit and enjoy the... Continue Reading
Posted on July 23, 2003 11:17 PM
We got a late start this morning, but isn't that what vacationing is all about? Jenna is so excited about going horseback riding, so we walked to the stable and made a reservation for tomorrow at 10:30 am. She will be riding a black and white horse named Questa. Every time we passed the stable today, she pointed out Questa to all of us. Took a photo of Jenna out front of the lodge. For... Continue Reading
Posted on July 21, 2003 10:29 PM
The kids were up at the crack of dawn, around 6:15 am. But we didn't mind much as we all slept through the night pretty good. I usually don't sleep my first night at high altitude, so it was refreshing. I was still tired, but it was fine. We lazed around the room for a good while before jumping in the car to explore. We decided to drive to Questa, about 10 miles west of... Continue Reading
Posted on July 20, 2003 10:55 PM
We left Edmond mid-morning, around 9:30 am, and head for Red River, New Mexico. It was a VERY hot day for a drive, with temperatures reaching 102 degrees in Texas. The scenery is mostly plains and desert... not much to see. However, we DID see the largest cross in the Western Hemisphere. This sucker was huge. And you can kind of see it in this photo, except for the truck that blocked the view as... Continue Reading
Posted on July 17, 2003 09:49 PM
I've been having a great time with Star Wars Galaxies. What a fun and addictive game. Here are the latest screen shots I have captured while exploring the galaxy. I took a few of me hanging out after a long night's hunt, as well as some HUGE creatures I encountered on Talus while doing missions with Vaba.
Continue Reading
Posted on July 3, 2003 01:58 PM
I have finally gone and done it. I have purchased my first Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game for the PC, Star Wars Galaxies, from LucasArts. I have dabbled with the game for a few hours today and have found it to be quite entertaining. I am beginning to see the appeal of this genre. Certainly, there is a fair amount of battling to be done. But most impressive is the interaction with other people simultaneously... Continue Reading
Posted on June 26, 2003 10:52 PM
Bought an ultra-cool cell phone today. It's a Sanyo 8100 for the Spring PCS network. It's extremely lightweight and is loaded with cool features, not the least of which is the built in camera. Simply point the camera, view the image on the color screen and SNAP. You've got a photo. If you like it, you save it. Then, you can send it to another Sprint PCS Vision user, email it to any address, and/or... Continue Reading
Posted on June 20, 2003 10:20 PM
Drop whatever you are doing (unless you are sending me money) and go download a copy of Chicken Shoot. Developed by Zuxxex in Germany, this game is a blast. The animations are a riot and blasting the chickens is just plain fun. Continue Reading
Posted on June 12, 2003 03:49 PM
Ever been to Blogshares.com? From their site... BlogShares is a simulated, fantasy stock market for weblogs where players invest fictional money to buy stocks and bonds in an artificial economy where attention is the commodity and weblogs are the companies. It's really a great deal of fun! This Blog is now listed and the price is skyrocketing. There are a few shares available, so enter the game and grab yours today. Click here to get... Continue Reading
Posted on June 8, 2003 12:55 PM
Alright.. been at this web site thing since 1995... that's ancient in 'net years. Still, I struggle when asked to explain what I do. Typical conversation goes like this... "What do you do?" "I have an Internet business" "Oh, you build web sites. My cousin's sister's twice-removed great aunt wants to have a web site. Can you help?" "No, I don't build web sites. I have my OWN sites." "Oh. So, what do you do... Continue Reading
Posted on June 4, 2003 03:17 PM
After the week I had last week, the icing was put on the proverbial cake yesterday afternoon. I found that I have been paying way too much for my health insurance thanks to my agent at Al Boenker insurance (The link is there so you know to avoid them). He is no longer with the company, but I was ticked just the same. I left the office at 2 pm and came home to find... Continue Reading
Posted on June 3, 2003 01:02 PM
First-time visitor? You may want to Click here to read the story thus far. I can not recall where we met the guy who would be our first link to the net, nor can I remember his name. All I remember is the company was called "Powernet", and they had a multi-level marketing scheme for Internet dial-up accounts. I think I have blocked out much of what took place with these people because they left... Continue Reading
Posted on May 27, 2003 01:00 AM
Once again, if you are just joining us on this story, you may wish to click here to read so far. After the incredibly overwhelming reception (about 8 emails) I received from my print publication, I knew I needed to do something to get more exposure. It was then I met Ken Burge. He and I met around 1994 and instantly enjoyed discussing all things computers. I believe he was working for Texas Instruments at... Continue Reading
Posted on May 23, 2003 01:01 AM
If you are just joining us on this story, you may wish to click here to read so far. Continuing... Those were the days of BBS's, bulletin board systems, where you would dial in to another computer with your blazing fast 2400 baud modem in order to post messages, download software and play text-based games online. It was also the time when AOL, Compuserve, Prodigy, GEnie and Delphi were battling it out to see who... Continue Reading
Posted on May 20, 2003 11:46 AM
Come and listen to a story of boom and bust. A tale of exhuberent highs and devastating lows. A yarn so dramatic, so engaing, so tragic... wait... wrong story. This is about my experience with the Internet and how I rode the wave from the beginning, only to end up here. Ready? Come gather 'round... Part I: I can do that! I have always been a computer freek. Since Radio Shack launched the first TRS-80... Continue Reading
Posted on May 15, 2003 10:54 PM
Sprung for a new computer game today, Enter the Matrix. Of course, it is based on The Matrix world and released to coincide with The Matrix Reloaded (which Mary and I intend to see Sunday evening). Cool - the Wachowski brothers wrote and directed the game, which is virtually unheard of in game production. Tons of additional footage was shot using principle actor JUST for the game. So it should add a lot to The... Continue Reading
Posted on May 12, 2003 11:05 PM
About 3-4 weeks ago, MrsMayor innocently surfed the web looking for a time-waster... a diversion, if you will. She succeeded by landing at PopCap Games. She remembered that I previously downloaded a game called Bejeweled, which has kept us both busy for countless hours. However, on this particular day, I found her playing a new game called Big Money. Folks, this game has done BOTH of us in! The kids will enter our office and... Continue Reading