It All Adds Up

Financial Crisis: They Saw it Coming

2009-03-05T18:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a Fox news story that has a timeline of various warning signs that pre-dates the big financial mess of the United States.
Watch this video:

Printable Target Coupons

2009-02-27T15:40:00.000-08:00

These Target coupons expire on 3/14/2009.

Coupon Link

Free Sweets for the Deeqs

2009-02-27T11:59:00.000-08:00

Dairy Queen is offering a $10 gift card to the first 250 bloggers who post this deal on their blog along with what deal you would do for a sweet deal. The prize? A year worth of free Dairy Queen deals for the best post. So Deeqs Unite and post to your blog! Make sure you show your dairy queen love and find out about DQ's first-ever permanent value menu - DQ® Sweet Deals.

Oh, and what deal would I make with DQ? Have my children dress-up as a Deeq for Halloween, what else?

And while you are salivating over all the sweet-toothed possibilities, you can visit the land of DQ-topia (a free online game by Dairy Queen) where all Deeqs Unite.

Financial Cartoon

2009-02-21T21:34:00.000-08:00

Here is a great cartoon explaining the current financial crisis we are in with sub-prime mortgage lending.

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

Google Phone on the Sprint Network?

2009-02-19T21:23:00.000-08:00

According to a CNN Money article, the Google Phone Android may be making its debut on the Sprint network. It's in the works! Let's see what happens. Read the article.

Dubai Real Estate is a Bust!

2009-02-17T19:33:00.000-08:00

Just like any other real estate market all over the world, Dubai real estate has hit a screaching halt! Watch this video on what is happening to this Middle East city:

There is a really good article about Dubai here.

Perhaps a buying opportunity in Dubai?

Abandoned Walmart Shopping Cart

2009-01-20T18:48:00.000-08:00

Got an interesting email from Walmart the other day. Apparently I left a shopping cart with some items that I did not purchase. All forgotten, right? Well Walmart sent out the cyber hounds to notify me of the following:

We noticed that you found something you liked during your recent visit to Walmart's website and placed it in your shopping cart.

We don't want you to miss out on a great product, so please keep in mind that popular items may go out of stock if you wait to buy them.

Sincerely,
Your Walmart.com Customer Service Team

Ah, technology (and shopping)...you gotta love it!

Comcast Customer Service

2009-01-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

Wow! Those Comcast commercials must be very expensive to produce and constantly air all the time. I'm sure Comcast pays a lot of money for all that advertising. As a result, it seems that Comcast does not invest a whole lot in customer service and the system tracking of customer calls. I have been on a roller coaster with Comcast for the past month after I decided to downgrade services after a promotional Triple Play service ended after one year. I have called Comcast about 10 times about the same issue in the last four weeks and the account status and pricing structure changes on my account all the time. Sheesh!!

I can see why this article (5 Confessions Of A Comcast Customer Service Rep) refers to Comcast as A GIANT, UNCARING MACHINE.

And here is an entertaining YouTube video on comcast customer service. It says it all...very funny:

Woman is out $400,000 to Internet's Biggest Scam!

2008-12-02T19:56:00.000-08:00

Janella Spears, a resident of Oregon, is out $400K to 'Nigerian scam' con artists. She fell victim to one of the most popular e-mail pitches in Web history. Read all about this financial nightmare here:

http://www.katu.com/news/34292654.html

Amazon Toy List

2008-11-17T21:39:00.000-08:00

Amazon.com just announced the launch of the Holiday Toy List. The Holiday Toy List lets customers watch hundreds of toys, video games, sporting goods, electronic gadgets, and DVDs in action. The list can be sorted by age or by price. With Amazon’s easy-to-use video display, customers are just a few clicks away from discovering the perfect gift. Why not get the hottest holiday toys at outstanding prices with Amazon’s Holiday Toy List.

A Baby Link and Free Diapers

2008-11-15T20:38:00.000-08:00

A great site to reference the amazing experience of pregnancy, birth, the toddler years and beyond is What to Expect. This site is from the best selling author of What to Expect When You're Expecting: 4th Edition.

We also found a free sample from Costco through their Kirkland Signature brand Supreme diapers.

And with a newborn in the house, you can never have too many diapers around. So here is a free sample of HUGGIES Diapers from Walmart.

Great Value for a Bundle of Children's Hardcover Classics

2008-11-15T18:43:00.000-08:00

Here is a great bundle of children's hardcover classics from Weekly Reader Online for only $24.95. Shipping is $4. This deal also comes with two additional books for AND 12 accompanying CDs for FREE! Use priority code 134424. Grab this deal by December 1, 2008 to receive in time for the holidays!

This bundle includes the following hardcover books (clicking on the books will give you preview from Amazon.com):

> Corduroy Lost and Found
> Curious George Goes to a Costume Party
> Do Your ABC's, Little Brown Bear
> Henry's Show and Tell
> How I Became a Pirate
> The Little Engine That Could Goes on a Class Trip
> Mirette on the Highwire
> Raggedy Ann's Wishing Pebble
> Tops & Bottoms
> What Grandmas Can't Do

Go here for the Weekly Reader Online deal.

Guitar Hero: World Tour 2-Player Wired Bundle for the Xbox 360 for under $60!

2008-11-08T19:58:00.000-08:00

Red Octane ships Guitar Hero: World Tour 2-Player Wired Bundle for the Xbox for $59.99. Make sure you apply coupon code WORLD2X to get $20 off the $79.99 price. This world tour wired bundle includes free shipping and the following:

> Guitar Hero World Tour Software for Xbox 360
> (2) Guitar Hero X-plorer Wired Guitars

Go to this deal.

Other Great Guitar Hero Deals

FREE Customized Letters from Santa

2008-11-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

Santa's Elves, Inc. a nonprofit organization based in Santa Claus, Indiana, provides FREE letters from Santa Claus himself! Just provide them with a brief narrative about your children, their names, and the addresses to which the letters should be sent. It is free and even postage is provided by outside organizations. Time is the only thing you are spending...telling (Santa Elves), Inc how wonderful the children in your life are to you and how their hearts can be touched this Christmas season with a personal letter from Santa.

Link to Santa Elves Inc.

Free Coffee at Barnes and Nobles

2008-10-25T21:26:00.000-07:00

Get a complimentary Cappuccino at a Starbucks that is inside a Barnes and Noble. This is up to a $3.20 value. This is not valid at any Barnes and Nobles College Bookstore. Expires 10/31/2008.

Click on coupon to print.

Global Recession?

2008-10-08T20:19:00.000-07:00

Here is a link to a site titled "The Money Meltdown". It contains everything you need to know about the current global money crisis that keeps spiraling out of control. The Money Meltdown site has a nice breakdown:

1. Background
2. Key Facts
3. What's Next
4. Your Money
5. Catharsis

You gotta love this Rick Sanchez clip with his sensationalism:

Update - To really make it simple to understand, I just read The Financial Crisis, as Explained to My Fourteen-Year-Old Sister. A short and sweet explanation of the mortgage mess we are in right now.

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Fuel Economy Sites

2008-10-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

With the price of fuel these days, who is not trying to save gas? There are a few sites that I have found that may just help you squeeze a few extra miles per gallon of gas. Fuelly is a site that lets you track, share, and compare your gas mileage. Simply sign up, add a car or motorcycle, and begin tracking your mileage. This free site allows you to record and analyze your mileage. You can also see how much money you can save with small driving changes. There is a really cool 3 minute video tutorial on the home page that explains everything about Fuelly.

And let's not forget about FuelEconomy.gov. You can also get some fuel economy information from TrueDelta's Fuel Econ section too.

Check out the video, the winner of this Super Mileage Competition achieved a record 3,145 miles per gallon!!

Happy Driving!

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Cancelling My Voip.com Service

2008-09-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

On 9/9/2008 at 12:40 pm I spoke to Voip.com customer rep Jermaine, who was based out of Georgia. I was inquiring about the cancellation process of my Voip.com service. I was concerned because I did not have the box that originally shipped with the Voip.com equipment that I received when my service first got activated in August 2007.

He said that it would not be a problem, as long as I shipped the all wires (including the blue Ethernet cable), power adapter and phone adapter. I proceeded to follow his instructions to cancel service with Voip.com. I went to the following page on the Voip.com website:

http://www.voip.com/help/residential/your_account/account_info/cancel_account.aspx

This Voip.com webpage has cancellation instructions.

On the page it stated that:

All equipment must be returned to voip.com upon cancellation.
Normal wear and tear is expected, but you will be responsible for excessive scratches, dents, missing parts, or other damage.
We recommend using a shipping method that allows for tracking and insurance.

The page continued to mention:

To cancel your account, please submit a cancellation notice at the following page:

https://www.voip.com/cp/cp_help_cancel.asp

Once the cancellation request is received, we will close your account and disconnect the line.

The cancellation instructions page continues:

The voip.com phone adapter and equipment must be received at the address below within 14 days from the date of your cancellation notice. We recommend using a shipping method that allows for tracking and insurance. Normal wear and tear is expected, but you will be responsible for excessive scratches, dents, missing parts, or other damage. Please ensure that you are returning all equipment, including the boxes (with UPC code), wires, power adapter, and phone adapter.

The equipment should be shipped to the following address:

voip.com
154 NW 16th Street
Boca Raton FL, 33432

Step 4: Cancellation Fees and Refunds

If you are canceling within 30 days of sign up and have complied with the Money Back Guarantee Terms, you may be eligible for our Money Back Guarantee. Once we have received your phone adapter and verified that it is returned in the proper condition, we will start processing your account to determine whether or not the Money Back Guarantee refund applies to you.

If you are canceling outside of the 30 day guarantee, you may be subject to the termination/disconnect fee of $39.95. Customers who have been with voip.com for over 1 year are not charged a termination fee.

Service with a ported number (number transferred from previous service) is not subject to the money back guarantee.

If the router is returned in a condition other than outlined in our Terms of Service, there will be a $65.00 replacement fee applied.

After following all the Voip cancellation instructions, I went ahead and canceled service with Voip.com on 9/14/2008.

Here is my update as of 9/18/2008. I sent my package with a shipping method that allowed for tracking and included insurance.

Here is insured mail receipt number:
1308 0950 0001 2157 8466

And here is my delivery confirmation:
0308 0730 0000 8721 2511

Six Phone Numbers You Should Program Into Your Cell Phone

2008-09-08T19:37:00.000-07:00

I got an email from the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS). The email was emphasizing the important role of your cell phone in an emergency situation. The email, that was actually sponsored from Nationwide Insurance, recommended that these six numbers be programmed in your cell phone:

1. I.C.E. This number, which stands for "in case of emergency," should be your emergency contact – a parent, spouse, close friend or whomever you want notified if something happens to you. Many emergency responders and hospital personnel know to look for this number.

2. Home. Your home phone number. If someone finds your lost cell phone, he or she can call this number to let you know your phone is intact. Emergency personnel may also try it as an alternative number if there is no answer at the ICE number.

3. Police. In case you have an emergency or witness someone else who needs help, you can notify your local police station about the situation more rapidly if you already have the number stored in your phone.

4. State highway patrol. See a motorist stranded by the side of the road? Be a Good Samaritan and call the state highway patrol for assistance.

5. Insurance company. If you are in an accident, you can notify your insurance company right away and get roadside assistance or towing help if you need it. (Nationwide's toll-free number for claims is 1-800-421-3535.)

6. Your motor club. Membership in an auto club can get you out of a jam. Store their 800 number in your cell phone in case you lock your keys inside the car or get a flat tire.

Restaurant.com

2008-08-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

Restaurant.com allows you to find deals at select neighborhood restaurants all over the United States. According to the Restaurant.com website, they, "... serve as the community matchmaker, introducing great restaurants to great people. From appetizers to dessert, from wine to dinner."

Go to their website and watch a quick one minute overview video on how their service works here:

http://www.restaurant.com/

One of the many deals you can get from Restaurant.com is buying a $25 certificate for $10 through an easy 3 step process.

Step 1 - Find a Restaurant

Step 2 - Purchase certificate

Step 3 - Print Certificate

My wife and I went to Andre's off the Square in Newnan, Georgia and loved it! Here is their menu.

The restrictions to Andre's off the Square was as follows:

Min. spent $35 in food including 2 entrees - excludes alcohol-18% gratuity added before discount- Dinner only - limit 1 cert. per table.

My Experience with PODS

2008-08-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

On July 10, 2006 a storage container was dropped off by PODS at my previous residence in South Florida for me to load for a move to Atlanta, Georgia. On July 15, 2006 the storage container was picked-up by PODS at the address in South Florida. The POD storage container was to be stored in a warehouse facility for seven days before it was shipped to my new residence in Atlanta, Georgia.

On July 22, 2006 the PODS truck arrived at my newly built home in Atlanta, Georgia with my storage container to be unloaded. After the PODS storage container was loaded off the truck with the PODzilla, the PODzilla got stuck in my newly laid Bermuda sod. The more the driver tried to move it from the grassy area the deeper the PODzilla dug into my land. The driver then suggested to move the truck beneath the PODzilla to remove it from the grassy, muddy area. I mentioned that the truck may get stuck as well, however he felt confident that it would not. After the driver backed up the truck under the PODzilla, it became stuck too. The driver attempted to move the truck out of the grassy area, but the more he tried the deeper the truck tires got into the sod and mud. The driver had to call a tow truck and within an hour the tow truck had pulled him off my property.

This incident was reported by me to the PODS Customer Service department on the evening of July 22, 2006. The customer service representative notified me that this had to be escalated to their Platinum Services Department. This is where I spoke to a Melissa at extension 5226 and was assigned incident # 97568. She was very concerned and helpful to take my report. Melissa informed me that I would hear from her department within 72 hours. More then three days passed and I never heard from the Platinum Services department. I had to call in myself to check on the status and I was informed that the situation was going to be handled by Carl who was from a local PODS franchise in the Atlanta area.

On July 28, 2006 the POD storage container was empty and read to be picked-up from PODS from my newly built home in Georgia. The driver that arrived that day was a different one from the July 22 drop-off. In the process of picking up the PODS unit with the PODzilla, the driver managed to hit and disturb the area around and above my garage door. The frame of one of my garage doors was damaged and there is a hole in the stucco above that area. There was considerable damage caused to my home because of the driver’s negligence. Immediately I called the PODS customer service department to inform them of the damage to my newly built house by their company.

On July 29, 2006, Carl came out to assess the damage. He looked at both the garage damage and the grassy area that was disturbed. He informed me that PODS would be taking care of it as soon as possible. He mentioned that he would begin by getting three estimates on the work. Only one contractor came out the following week on August 7, 2006.

I also emailed and called Carl that I wanted my builder, Rossetti and Rossetti, to give an estimate with his sub-contractors. My email and my three phone calls were never returned by Carl, regarding my builder request to give an estimate. The cost for all the damage was estimated at $1,600 as per my builder.

As I draft this letter on August 19, 2006, I have yet to receive a plan from PODS Customer Service or Carl on how this matter will be resolved. I also never received an accident report or acknowledgement of the damage caused by the PODS company or their Atlanta franchise.

Here are some of the photos of what PODS did to my grass.

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