Sci Fi Jungle

Paranoia

Between all the little rfid chips, gps, cell phone trangulation, credit and debit card tracking going on there is really no privacy left to us.  The only real privacy remains in being so boring that nobody will pay attention to you.  I blog, twitter, Facebook, post pictures and I don't generally worry about my privacy because I am in fact quite boring and don't have much to hide.  (And no, I am not telling you what I actiually may have to hide - I have some privacy left.)

I hear that there is such a thing as rfid blocking.  I wonder what the heck that does?  Maybe people think they are being bugged?

I do think there is something to be said for THE IDEA of going off the grid, if not the reality.  I would like to have some chickens, a cow, and a garden and be able to fend for myself.  Well, except for the part where you have to get up early to milk the cow.  Chickens maybe better - I don't think they are a lot of work if you have them out in the open.  I do want air conditioning and internet though.  Not much of an off the grid person am I?

Coupon Codes for Shari's Berries

If you are looking for yummy hostess gifts for Thanksgiving, check out the specials they are having at Shari's Berries.  There's a 15% off sitewaide, as well as 20% off of orders over $39.00. 

Check out the adorable Halloween themed chocolate dipped strawberries.  Here is the link to the special offers - Sharis Berries Promotion codes

 

Uni-Ball Kuru Toga Rotating Mechanical Pencil always keeps a sharp lead

Ok, this got the nerd in me a little excited.  The pencil lead rotates while you are writing so you keep a nice point instead of having it wear down and break apart.  Watch the video - it's cool.

Bloom Box - Hope or Hype?

Those two blocks can power the average high-consumption American home -- one block can power the average European home. At least that's the claim being made by K.R. Sridhar, founder of Bloom Energy

via www.engadget.com

So if two small Bloom Boxes can power an average American home with clean energy, what's the catch?

I personally have some concerns about the safety of having a small power generator (probably using flammable gas) in your house but what do I know? I would probably be skeptical of the idea of electricity if it were new to me as well.

The other problem the Bloom Box has to overcome is the availability of whatever fuel is used to power the fuel cells. Apparently they can use a number of different types of fuel such as wind and solar, or traditional fossil fuels. So there's still no magic - the energy comes from somewhere and that somewhere probably has some carbon footprint as well.

I think what is most exciting about the Bloom product is that they have some proprietary technology to make the fuel cell cheaper. Right nw they are $700,000 and up, but the company's business plan revolves around having a $3,000 home model at some point. Wow.

Now, if someone can figure out how I can power my home with the leftover calories from a bag of Doritos, that would be pretty cool.  I wonder if Bloom would start working on a fat burner supplement that runs your TV

Gamer Deals Web Site

I found a deals website that focuses just on video games, computer games, etc.  Its called Cheap Ass Gamer.

Today they are posting about how Target is selling DS Lites for $99.00.  My kids love their DSs and I am sure would love one of the new ones with the cameras.  But alas, not in our budget until I am working again.

By the way - if you know of anyone looking for an email and collaborative computing specialist, check out my professional web site: Beyond Messaging.

Something a Little Devilish

Check out this naughty little heart pendant with devil horns and tail!  So funny.  I have a certain friend who I think would love this.  Cough::Melissa::Cough.

Regular heart pendant necklaces are so popular and really overdone! I mean really, one is all you need.  (Of course the more diamonds on them the better... remember that guys)  And if you are buying jewelery for me I have two phrases for you - diamonds and yellow gold.

But this...  something really different.

Treating Blogging Like a Business

The high unemployment rate is spurring many people to start home businesses.  This is an actually a positive side effect of the economic crash of '09.  Most American innovation and success comes from individual entrepreneurs who have a new idea and the opportunity to act on them.

My strategy is to supplement my income through the business of blogging.  I treat my 3 blogs as my personal home business.  I also do freelance writing through Textbroker, which doesn't pay very well, but at least is something.  I've even made a few pennies here and there trying out Amazon's Mechanical Turk service, which allows you to sign up for repetitive tasks for a small amount of money each. 

I treat my blogging as work.  Every day I check the Google Trends page and see if there are any hot topics I want to blog about.  Then I check SlickDeals.net and Fatwallet.com for any deals or freebies I think my readers need to know about.   For my health themed blog, about Crohn's Disease, I check the medical news each day.

I check my favorite Sci Fi sites, like sfsignal.com and see what goodies they are talking about.  I go to my local library, Goodwill book department, and used bookstore to pick up Sci Fi and Fantasy books to read and review here.  I am sure to put an Amazon affiliate link in my review post so if someone wants to buy the book I can make 4% to 6% affillate commission on the sale.  I was able to buy my 6 year old's birthday presents with Amazon affiliate payments this month!

Over the past year and half since I decided to monetize my blogs I have made a bit of money, and had a lot of fun.  Up next - optimizing my sites for Google Adsense.

Sci Fi Greeting Cards

I have these Sci Fi  postcards for sale in the Cafepress shop - they feature a futuristic cityscape.  I don't have any bifold greeting cards set up in the shop yet, and I want to do that.  Greeting cards with a futuristic sci fi theme are harder to find than you might think. 

I need to do the setup work to offer a greeting card pack for the Sci Fi city image.  It's very peaceful and yet slightly off kilter and I think makes a great blank card.

Bigheartcards. com looks like a really cool service, and I look forward to checking it out when they get their site redone.  Its a service where you can create a paper greeting cards from your PC - they print the card, address the envelope, and mail it for you.  Cool and easy!

Box Sets and Sci Fi on Sale at Amazon

Amazon is having two sales right now that are of interest:  a "Sci Fi Extravaganza," and a sale on Boxed Sets.

The box set sale features "savings of up to 60% off over 1000 boxed sets from July 7 through Aug. 4, 2009."  Some of the goodies included are Eureka, Star Trek the original series, True Blood, and lots more.

Star Trek The Original Series, Remastered

Star Trek the Original Motion Picture Boxed Set

Underworld Trilogy

Eureka Season Three

Bleach Uncut Season One Boxed Set

Stargate the Complete Fourth Season

Spin the Ferris Wheel Below for links to these great Sci Fi boxed sets on sale.  Plus, spinning the Ferris wheel is fun.